[2025 Kamakura Attraction] Travel Guide for Shirahata Shrine (Updated May)

Shirohata Shrine in Kamakura. It's a little confusing, but there is also a Shirohata Shrine at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. This is the shrine located under the grave of Minamoto no Yoritomo. It is usually unmanned, but it is open only during the first three days of the New Year, when you can receive goshuin and other gifts! Although the grounds are very small, Shirohata Shrine was a private Buddhist altar where a small Kannon statue, which is said to have been placed in Yoritomo's topknot and taken to battle, was enshrined. He was later buried there as the Okura Hokkedo. His current grave is located up the stairs just next to Shirohata Shrine. I think this is the place where Minamoto no Yoritomo's energy was strongest! ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Shirahata Shrine (Nishi-mikado) ꕥAddress: 2-1-31 Yukinoshita, Kamakura, Kanagawa ꕥAccess 🚉Kamakura Station → approx. 11-minute walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #besttrip2023 #Shirahata Shrine #Kamakura sightseeing #Kamakura trip #Tourist spot

It is said that Hojo Masako founded the shrine in 1200 with Minamoto no Yoritomo as the deity. Later, the third shogun, Minamoto no Sanetomo, was enshrined there, and currently there are two deities enshrined there. The shrine building is painted black, and unlike the vermilion-painted Honmiya and Wakamiya, it leaves a strong impression even though it is a shrine within the grounds. Right next to it is a double-flowered cherry tree called "Santomo Sakura." This cherry tree was donated by the "Hadano Sanetomo Festival Executive Committee," and there is a history of exchanges between the two groups, the "Association to Love the Ancient Capital of Kamakura," and the two groups have exchanged cherry blossoms. There are also two stones nearby called "Tsurukame Ishi" (crane and turtle stones). It is said that when washed with water, a crane and turtle pattern appears on these stones, which are considered to be auspicious. It is easy to end your visit with just visiting the Honmiya, but there is also something to see here. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥLocation: Shirohata Shrine ꕥAddress: 2-10-4 Komachi, Kamakura, Kanagawa ꕥAccess 🚉Kamakura Station → 🚶♀️About 3 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Shirohata Shrine #Tsurugaoka Hachimangu #Shrine Tour #Kamakura Sightseeing #Kamakura Trip #Kamakura Sightseeing

It is enshrined on the left side just before the stairs leading to Minamoto no Yoritomo's grave! According to the history of the shrine, this place was originally Yoritomo's Buddhist altar, where he worshipped a small Kannon statue that he had placed in his topknot during the Battle of Ishibashiyama. When Yoritomo died, he was buried here and the shrine was renamed Hokkedo. After that, due to the separation of Shinto and Buddhism and the destruction of Buddhism, the shrine was renamed Shirahata Shrine. It is a quiet shrine, but the shrine office is open only during New Year's, when it becomes more lively than usual. [Additional Information] "Topknot" is pronounced motodori (or tabusa). It is the place where hair is gathered and tied on top of the head. As a result, the Kannon statue is very small. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ❥❥ Shirahata Shrine 🚉Kamakura Station →🚶‍♀️About 22 minutes ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Shirahata Shrine #Shrines and Temples #Shrines Tour #Kamakura Trip #Kamakura Sightseeing #Kanagawa Trip #Kanagawa Sightseeing