Iga Hachimangu
Dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war, this shrine became a guardian shrine
for the Matsudaira family. Tokugawa Ieyasu's powerful great-grandfather, Matsudaira
Chikatada, is believed to have relocated this shrine from Mie. It was visited
to pray for victories in war and for the survival and prosperity of the descendants.
Despite being dedicated to a war deity, the shrine is peaceful and beautiful,
particularly when the iris are blooming.
Due to its location by the Iga River upstream from the castle, the shrine is
the departure point for the popular Ieyasu Gyoretsu parade held in early April
each year. The banks of the river are covered with cherry blossoms at this time.
index