Maioka Park, Yokohama
Founded in 1302, this Shinto Shrine was renamed to Maioka Hachimangu Shrine in 1891 upon its merger with three other nearby shrines in Totsuka Ward of Yokohama.
The shrine is home to six deity and holds 11 different festivals throughout the year.
The shrine is closely associated with the local farmers who primarily grow rice in rice paddies that can be found in the small valley surrounding the shrine.
The shrine is also home to a 245-year-old ginkgo tree that has received a Distinguished Historic Tree designation from the city of Yokohama, which aims to preserve and protect such trees for future generations.
The smaller shrines on the right side of the main shrine structure were built in 1945 to worship the spirits of the war dead dating as far back as the Sino-Japan War up to and including WWII who were from Maioka village.
On the day of this photo shoot, in addition to the abundance of greenery and rural vibe, I was pleasantly surprised to hear many frogs calling out to each other in the rice paddies.
Shinto Shrine in Yokohama
Side view of Maioka Hachimangu Shrine, located on a hillside surrounded by rice paddies in Totsuka Ward, Yokohama. This angle more clearly reveals the large “stage” area where some of the ceremonies associated with certain festivals are performed the local community.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
28 mm ISO 200 for 30 sec. at ƒ/11
