Shirahata Jinja (白旗神社)

Shirahata Jinja (白旗神社)

Shirahata Jinja (白旗神社) is a Shinto shrine located in the Fujisawa District of Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, situated between National Route 1 and Kanagawa Prefectural Route 403.

Statue of Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Though the exact date of its founding is unclear, it is known that the shrine existed before the Kamakura period and enshrined Samukawahiko-no-mikoto (寒川比古命), the kami of Samukawa-jinja Shrine, and was called Samukawa Jinja.

The shrine also enshrines Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who, after falling out of favor with his brother Minamoto no Yoritomo, took his own life at Koromogawa-no-Tate in Hiraizumi, Oshu (modern-day Iwate Prefecture) on April 30, 1189.  His head was sent to Kamakura by a man named Nitta Kaja Takahira, and upon arrival, Yoshitsune's identity was confirmed by Wada Yoshimori and Kajiwara Kagetoki.

Large ema of rabbits and Ushiwakamaru

According to legend, the head of his loyal retainer, Benkei, was also sent at the same time.  During the night, it is said that the two heads traveled up the Shirahata River and eventually arriving at this location.

Hello Kitty omikuji

When this news reached Minamoto no Yoritomo, he ordered that Yoshitsune's head be enshrined here as "Shirahata Myojin" in recognition of the white flag (shirahata) that symbolized the Minamoto clan.  Later, in 1752, the shrine was officially renamed Shirahata Jinja.  The head of Benkei was enshrined at a nearby shrine, Hachioji-sha.

In celebration of the year of the rabbit, Shirahata Jinja has displayed a large ema featuring rabbits and Ushiwakamaru, the childhood name of Yoshitsune, leaping between boats.  Additionally, the shrine is offering omikuji featuring Hello Kitty dressed as a rabbit.

Shirahata Jinja also enshrines the kami Amaterasu Omikami (天照皇大神), Okuninushi-no-Mikoto (大国主命), Oyamatsumi-no-Mikoto (大山祇命), Kunisatsuchi-no-Mikoto (国狭槌命), and Yamato Takeru no Mikoto (日本武尊).

Subordinate Shrines

Shirahata Benzaiten (白旗辨財天)

Shirahata Benzaiten (白旗辨財天)

Shirahata Bishamonten (白旗毘沙門天)

Shirahata Bishamonten (白旗毘沙門天)

Moriwaki Inari Jinja (森脇稲荷神社)

Moriwaki Inari Jinja (森脇稲荷神社)