Kokoshimizu Hachiman Shrine

【A thousand-year story told by the pure water, the spirit of the samurai】 The "Kokoshimizu Hachiman Shrine" conveys this tale.

In Aizubakuhonmachi, quietly standing in the land of Tōji, is the "Kokoshimizu Hachiman Shrine." Once you step into the precincts, you are enveloped in a tranquility that makes you forget the surrounding noise, filled with a dignified atmosphere. This place, which has continued since the Heian period, is a "prayer's original landscape" where the valiant warriors of the past prayed for military success and the hearts of the people were nourished.

■ A legend told by the ever-flowing "Kokoshimizu"

The "Kokoshimizu," which gave the shrine its name, holds a beautiful legend.

• Rest of the Genji: During the Zenkunen War, it is said that Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and his son Yoshiie quenched their thirst here, and were so impressed by its purity that they felt it washed away even the stains of their hearts, hence the name.
• The eternal sacred spring: This spring water, said to never dry up in any drought, still calms the hearts of visitors and is considered the soul of this shrine.

■ The "heavy dignity" carved across the ages

This shrine, once greatly revered by the Oshu Fujiwara clan, holds treasures of high historical value.

• A distinguished architecture standing in silence: The shrine buildings towering against the backdrop of the trees in the precincts exude a majesty that has transcended countless years.
• Cultural heritage: The dedicated ema and various rituals demonstrate how deeply the land of Aizu was connected to central culture and the samurai society.

The shimmering sky and water that the ancient samurai gazed upon. In this tranquil grove that seems to stop time, why not purify your heart as well?