| Hachimangu shrines, found in various places in
Japan, venerate the brave deity Hachiman. Tomioka Hachimangu was the largest Hachimangu
shrine in Edo, and the townspeople came here to worship. This shrine is famous
for having served as the site of sumo tournaments for a century starting in 1684,
and the shrine precincts contain monuments celebrating famous yokozuna
(the top rank in sumo) and ozeki (the second-highest
rank) from the past.
Every year around August 15, the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival is held. Many people
come to watch what is known as one of the three major festivals in Tokyo along
with the Sanno Festival at Hie Shrine and the Kanda Festival at Kanda Myojin.
Visitors should not miss the large and exquisite portable shrines alongside the
entranceway to Tomioka Hachimangu.
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