By ando 
Morioka Hachimangu, located in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, is known as the ‘face of Morioka’ and a power spot, being the largest jinja in the prefecture. While its vibrant vermillion-lacquered shrine hall is eye-catching, this jinja is actually more than just a historical site. It is full of mysterious anecdotes and unique attractions that surprise visitors.
This time, we will introduce some little-known stories and mysteries of Morioka Hachimangu, which locals even call a ‘shrine theme park’.
Basic Information
Location: 13-1 Hachimancho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Main kami enshrined: Honta wake no Mikoto (the 15th Emperor Ojin)
Founded: Built in Enpo 8 (1680) by Nambu Shigenobu, the 29th lord of the Nambu clan (It is also said to have originated from a dedication by Minamoto no Yoriyoshi in 1062)
Blessings: General aspects of human life, including agriculture, industry, commerce, academics, and daily necessities (food, clothing, shelter)
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1. Sealing Your ‘Bad Breath’? The Hyotan Gourds for Warding Off Evil
One of the most distinctive sights at Morioka Hachimangu is the multitude of red hyotan gourds hanging throughout the jinja grounds. These are called ‘yakufuji no hyotan’ (hyotan gourds for warding off evil), and they involve a unique ritual rarely seen elsewhere.
Worshippers firmly blow their breath, ‘fuu, fuu, fuu,’ three times into a hyotan gourd they have received. They transfer any misfortunes or evil spirits within themselves into the hyotan with their breath, then immediately seal it with a stopper. Considering that countless ‘bad things’ belonging to people are tightly sealed within the myriad hyotan gourds lined up on the shelves in the grounds… it is hard not to feel a slightly mysterious and powerful presence.
2. Lost? Come Here! The ‘Shrine Theme Park’ with 18 Smaller Shrines
Within the vast grounds, in addition to the main hall, over 10 setsha (auxiliary shrines) and massha (sub-shrines) are scattered around. Their diversity has earned the jinja the nickname ‘shrine theme park’.
– Junishi Jinja (Twelve Zodiac Shrines): Each shrine enshrines the guardian kami for a specific Chinese zodiac sign, and it is customary to pray at the shrine corresponding to your birth year’s zodiac.
– Kenko Jinja (Health Shrine): Surprisingly, here you will find not only kami for the five major organs like the ‘heart,’ ‘liver,’ and ‘lungs,’ but also kami for ‘cancer’ and ‘stroke.’ It is very rare to find kami dedicated to specific body parts or diseases.
– Takabe Jinja: This shrine enshrines the kami of cuisine, and it also features a ‘Hochozuka’ (Knife Mound) where knives are ritually honored. It is a hidden gem visited by chefs and homemakers praying for improved culinary skills.
3. The Haiden Doors That Never Close, 24 Hours a Day
While many jinja close their gates at night or in the early morning, the doors of Morioka Hachimangu’s haiden (hall of worship) are never closed, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This tradition stems from a deep sense of compassion, ensuring that ‘anyone, at any time, can pray to the kami’.
The vermillion-lacquered shrine hall, lit up in the stillness of the night, takes on a fantastical appearance, completely different from daytime, and a slightly mysterious atmosphere pervades. Some visitors report feeling a strange sensation, as if they are facing the kami one-on-one, when praying alone late at night.
4. Fishing for Fortunes? The Playful ‘Medetai Omikuji’ (Auspicious Fortune Slips)
In front of the main hall, many people enjoy the ‘Medetai Omikuji,’ which you ‘fish’ for using a rod. It is a style where you literally ‘fish up’ cute sea bream figurines containing omikuji fortune slips.
The auspiciousness of ‘fishing for your own luck’ combined with the fun of a game captivates both adults and children. Different colors represent different wishes, such as red for peace and stability, and gold for financial fortune.
5. History Born from the Nambu Lord’s ‘Love for the Common People’
Originally, Morioka Hachimangu was located within Morioka Castle, making it difficult for common people to visit freely. However, in the Edo period, the domain lord Nambu Shigenobu built a new shrine hall at the current location, desiring that ‘common people could also pray freely,’ which marked the beginning of the present-day Morioka Hachimangu.
At that time, the area developed as a monzenmachi (shrine town) was the present-day Hachimancho. Because the town was built around the jinja, the streets leading from the sando (shrine approach) still retain a nostalgic and warm vitality.
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Morioka Hachimangu is a nationally rare jinja where profound history coexists with ‘interactive’ fun, such as the hyotan gourds and fishing omikuji.
When you visit Morioka, why not try sealing your breath into a hyotan gourd and enjoy a ‘journey of encountering kami’ by visiting the 18 smaller shrines?
Related Links / References
[1] Morioka Hachimangu History | Official Morioka Hachimangu | Iwate Prefecture (https://morioka8man.jp/yuisyo/)
[2] 7 Recommended Power Spots in Iwate for Exorcism and Evil Warding! – Power Spot Recommended .com (https://power-spot-osusume.net/tiiki/iwateyakuyokeyakubaraipawa-supotto/)
[3] Morioka Hachimangu Shrine Hall etc. | Official Morioka Hachimangu | Iwate Prefecture (https://morioka8man.jp/%E7%9B%9B%E5%B2%A1%E5%85%AB%E5%B9%A1%E5%AE%AE%E7%A4%BE%E6%AE%BF%E7%AD%89/)
[4] Morioka Hachimangu | Complete Guide to History, Highlights, and Visiting Information for a Historic Shrine – Wakunot Media (https://waknot.com/spot/2969)
[5] [Iwate] Morioka’s Guardian Shrine! ‘Morioka Hachimangu’ is the Guardian Deity of Nambu! – Traveler Cipher’s Outing Blog (https://traveler-cipher.hatenablog.com/entry/2024/02/13/114553)
[6] [Iwate Prefecture Morioka City] Morioka Hachimangu | Hinotori (https://hinotori-trip.com/media/spot36/)
[7] Travel and History of Iwate Prefecture (http://oginohp.web.fc2.com/touhoku/iwate/moriokashi/moriokahachimanguu/index.html)
[8] The Truth About the Theory That There Are No Kami at Morioka Hachimangu? Thorough Explanation of Blessings and History (https://jinjya-inishie.com/morioka/)
[9] Morioka Hachimangu: The Guardian Shrine of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Adorned with History and Legend – Jinja Trip (https://jinjanews.com/2025/08/18/%E7%9B%9B%E5%B2%A1%E5%85%AB%E5%B9%A1%E5%AE%AE%EF%BC%9A%E6%AD%B4%E5%8F%B2%E3%81%A8%E4%BC%9D%E8%AA%AC%E3%81%AB%E5%BD%A9%E3%82%89%E3%82%8C%E3%81%9F%E5%B2%A9%E6%89%8B%E7%9C%8C%E7%9B%9B%E5%B2%A1%E3%81%AE/)
[10] [Morioka Hachimangu] A Jinja Where You Can Encounter Hyotan Gourds for Warding Off Evil and Inari Kami of Nature Spirits | 100 Jinja and Buddhist Temple Tours (https://ufufu-days.com/shrine/morioka-hachiman-gu/)
[11] https://morioka8man.jp/wp-content/uploads/210528_1.pdf
[12] About Morioka Hachimangu (http://www.moriokadashi-akikaze.com/hachimangu.htm)