Umi Hachimangu

Umi Hachimangu is a Shinto shrine located in Umi, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan, established during the reign of Emperor Bidatsu between 572 and 586. The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Ōjin, Empress Jingū, Tamayori-bime, Sumiyoshi sanjin, and Izanagi. According to legend, this is the place where Empress Jingū gave birth to the future Emperor Ōjin, making it one of Japan's most significant sites for those seeking blessings for safe childbirth and child-rearing. The town name "Umi" itself derives from the Japanese word for birth.

The shrine is renowned for Kada's Forest, an extraordinary grove of ancient camphor trees that dominates the grounds. The two largest trees are registered as Natural Monuments, with the largest standing over 18 meters tall with an equal spread and a circumference of 24 meters at the base. While the shrine claims these trees are 2,000 years old, they remain among the most impressive examples of Japan's largest hardwood species. Yufuta's Forest, one of these old camphor trees, has been designated as a National Treasure.

Visitors can experience several unique traditions at Umi Hachimangu. The most distinctive is the Koyasu-no-ishi ritual, where pregnant women take home a prayer stone, then return after birth with an additional stone as thanksgiving. The grounds also contain Ubuyu-no-mizu, a sacred spring believed to have been used for Emperor Ōjin's first bath, and the Koyasu tree, which Empress Jingū reportedly held during labor. A subsidiary shrine called Yukatasha enshrines the founder of midwifery. The shrine hosts the Housoukai festival annually on October 15-16, a traditional autumn celebration emphasizing compassion for all living things.

Umi Hachimangu Shrine is located a few hundred meters east of Umi Station on the Kashii Line. From Hakata Station, the journey takes approximately one hour with one transfer. The shrine provides free parking at three locations for visitors arriving by car. Admission is free, and the grounds feature wheelchair-accessible facilities and permit guide dogs.