Market at Wakamiya Hachimanshya shrine in Nagoya

13/10/2025

When visiting temples or shrines in Japan, please remember that these are sacred places. Any behavior that shows disrespect — such as touching sacred objects, entering restricted areas, or making noise — can be seen as both culturally offensive and legally punishable under Japanese law (Article 188 of the Penal Code).

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Wakamiya Hachimanshya shrine in Nagoya

Wakamiya Hachimansha is a very spacious shrine located near Sakae in Nagoya. The history of this shrine is very long. It dates back to around the year 900, but it was moved to its current location in 1610 with support from Tokugawa Ieyasu. Later, it was destroyed during World War II and subsequently rebuilt.

The grounds are spacious, with many large sacred trees.

There are several other shrines within the grounds of Wakamiya Hachimansha. Each seems to have its own history, but I haven’t fully researched them yet.

Market at Wakamiya Hachiman shrine

“Wakamiya Hachimansha holds a market on the first of every month. Occasionally, there is also a market on the 21st. I went to the market held on the 21st.

Markets at shrines and temples are common in Nagoya. Higashi Betsuin holds markets three times a month. Compared to Higashi Betsuin, the market at Wakamiya Hachimansha was smaller in scale. This shrine is very close to Osu, so if you’re sightseeing in Osu in a day, it’s a good idea to visit it as well.

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I’ve compiled a list of Nagoya’s places that I’ve personally visited. Is Nagoya boring? Not at all! While it has developed as an industrial city, it also hides interesting places full of history and culture. Use this guide to explore Nagoya and discover its hidden gems.