Azama Hachiman Shrine

Hachiman Okami, Empress Jingu

The exact date of its founding is unknown, but records from 1653 CE (Jōō 2) identify it as the village's guardian shrine. It has long been revered as the protective deity of Azama Village. During the Edo period, the area came under the jurisdiction of the Matsudaira family, a branch of the Tokugawa clan serving as hatamoto (direct vassals). In the Genroku era (1688–1704), donations were made for the reconstruction and repair of the shrine buildings. In 1718 CE (Kyōhō 3), an imperial edict was issued designating the shrine as a 'First Rank Hachiman Shrine.'