Nakanome-Hachiman Shrine

  Nakanome-Hachiman Shrine has been said to be built in 1558-1559.  The deity of this shrine is the emperor Ojin, and three statues of gods are worshipped there.  One of them is the priest-style Hachiman statue that is 44cm tall, and the names of the craft man Shogi and of its donor Genzaemon are written in India ink on the bottom of the statue.  In the prefecture, there are some Hachiman statues, but no one has such signatures except this one.  

  Another is Nyoraizazo (a type of Buddhism statue). Rahotsu (the hairstyle of the Buddhism statue) and the hand sign of it help us to recognize the type.  The other statue is Shiranuimokuzo (wooded and older than Nyoraizazo).  These three statues were registered as the cultural assets of the town in January 1998.  

  In the precinct, there are the Tsukioka-Inari-Shrine, and children do the lion dance and march with Mikoshi(a portable shrine).   The festivals are held on August 4th and 5th in Hachiman-shrine, and on August 18th in Inari- shrine.  During festivals people march all over the community, it is full of life.  Also, in the precinct, there are five precious stelas.  These were made in the middle or late Muromachi era according to Mr. Kazuho Kato, a specialist in stelas. In addition, there are other two stelas in the house of Mr.Goto Nobuo(Jiroemon) in Hagyu Nakanome Kita district. There are 24 stelas in the town, 7 of them are in Nakanome district.