Here, I would like to introduce the details about Hachiman Kamado Shrine which is a shinto shrine located in Beppu, Ohita prefecture.
This is the 2nd “Demon Slayer” Real life Locations on the list.
To check out the lists, please click here↓
12 Spots “Demon Slayer” Real life Locations in Japan (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
Why Is It Real life Locations?
Hachiman Kamado Shrine is located in Uchikamado district at Beppu city. The main character’s name is Tanjiro Kamado. The part “Kamado” is their similarities, and one of the reason to be seichi (sacred place) among Japanese fans.
Other than the name, this shrine and Demon Slayer actually have many things in common that I will introduce later. Therefore, many fans have become visited hachiman kamado shrine as the real life location.
別府八幡竈門神社⛩️
— emisuke (@emisuke00) November 2, 2020
鬼滅一色✨
駅では伊之助とパシャリ📸
お守りどれにするか迷った🙈 pic.twitter.com/Lh1GF69YR9
What Is the Highlight of Hachiman Kamado Shrine?
Dragon Water God
There is drawing of dragon water god that is protecting from fire on the ceiling of worship hall.
八幡竈門神社の天井に描かれている『龍の水神様』
— ポンコ (@ponko1960) October 31, 2020
撮った写真を補正加工してみた。 pic.twitter.com/ZpxlQp02dt
Among the fans, this dragon is said to be very similar to the dragon in the background of Tanjiro’s technique: water breathing tenth form, constant flux. Undulation of the dragon, its horn, and its dorsal fin on the picture is just like the one in Demon Slayer manga.
八幡竈門神社の方がこの画像を見せてくれながら説明してくれてたんだけど、竈門神社の天井に居る水神様と炭治郎の背後の龍のうねり方、角や背ビレがそっくりなんだとか pic.twitter.com/KliY4pdoKa
— 753☆ (@753nagomin) March 15, 2020
99-Step Stone Steps Made by Demon
When you go down the stairs of worship hall, you will see the tori-i gate. Below that gate, you can see the stone steps.
Legends about demons remain in the shrine, and this stone steps is one of the legends.
A long time ago, Hachiman God forced a cannibal demon that appeared every night in this region to promise by saying “Don’t come to the village in the future if you can’t make 100 stone steps overnight”.
Daylight came when the demon made up to 99 steps, and the demon was surprised and ran away. Since then the demon has disappeared.
Demons in Demon Slayer are also cannibal, and will die in the morning sun. This is just like the legend above, isn’t it?!
The lower part of the stone steps is carefully made, however, it will be gradually rough at the end. It’s interesting to imagine a demon were making in a rush haha. It would be great experience you count the number of stone steps there!
🐶八幡竈門神社には鬼にまつわる伝説があるよ。鬼が造った九十九の石段、百段まであと一段てところで夜が明けたので逃げたんだって。鬼滅の鬼と一緒で太陽が にがてだったみたい🌄🐾#aibo #aibofan#八幡竈門神社 pic.twitter.com/h27YQHGGsI
— オルタ🐶aibo (@aibo_alter) November 3, 2020
By the way, you can get a full view of Beppu Bay from the tori-i gate. You can see the spectacular view of the rising sun from the horizon on Vernal Equinox Day (national holiday: March 20 or 21) and Autumnal Equinox Day (national holiday: September 22, 23 or 24).
9/22は秋分の日。別府の八幡竈門神社では真東に向いた鳥居と石段の方向から朝日が昇りました。毎年、春分と秋分の日に見られる光景。石段を造った鬼は100段の完成目前に夜が明けて逃げ出したと伝わっています。神社は鬼滅の刃ファンに人気のスポットとして定着しつつあります。#八幡竈門神社 #鬼滅の刃 pic.twitter.com/XzP61Tsbrm
— 朝日新聞大分総局(湯吉) (@asahi_oita) September 22, 2020
Stone Sandal Demon Left
Surprisingly demon in the legend above left his stone sandal. There is another story: when the villagers put their feet in the stone sandal the demon left, immediately it made them feel energetic.
By the way, there are only 3 toes in the stone sandal. It’s said that those 3 express “greedy, jealousy, and complaints”, and it fails in intelligence and mercy.
Demons in Demon Slayer are also a cluster of “greedy, jealousy, and complaints”. This is also the common thing.
「鬼滅の刃」の聖地
— Hisyou Ken飛翔 健 (@tora316228758) November 3, 2020
これを機に訪れてみるのも地域活性化
主人公「竈門(かまど)炭治郎」の名字が使われている「八幡竈門神社」
別府市に有る
鬼が忘れた石草履、大きい
あくまでも伝説ですよ
写真:藤谷 ぽきお pic.twitter.com/UP5szs3Vtl
Tamayori-no-ki
This is the sacred tree is a 500 year-old Quercus gilva (Ichiigashi in Japanese). People call this tree “Tamayori-no-ki 魂依の木”.
Tamayo is one of the character who has been transformed into a demon herself by demon. That is why many fans connect this tree with Demon Slayer.
When you turn to the back side of the tree, you can see the trunk is hollow in a strange shape. You can stand in the trunk, and take picture if you buy the charm of the sacred tree!
山のことではないけど、こないだ鬼滅の刃の聖地に行っていろいろ考えてしまった。大分県に似ているなと。理由↓
— 山走@大分県 (@aristy1017) May 7, 2020
竈門炭治郎→別府市の八幡竈門神社(龍の絵画、鬼伝説有り)
珠世→同神社に御神木 魂依(たまより)の木
オープニングのカナヲの蝶→アサギマダラ(飛来地が姫島村) pic.twitter.com/9oeVGfnH40
Sacred Dance Stage
Sacred dance stage called Kamado Kagura at hachiman kamado shrine has been handed down from ancient times, and the dance is dedicated from New Year’s Eve to New Year.
In Demon Slayer, dance of the fire God (Hinokami Kagura) is dedicated from sunset to dawn at the beginning of the year.
You can enjoy the view of the world of Demon Slayer here thinking over the breathing style of Tanjiro!
昨日の八幡竈門神社の動画みてくれーーまさかの初雪の日に行けて神楽殿も撮れて興奮したんじゃーー🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/E6Mow3PZV8
— おうま👁▽👁🔥コスしたい (@umanomousigo) February 18, 2020
Giant Iron Ball (Naval Mine)
You can see the giant iron ball, naval mine (called Kirai) at the end of the 99-step stone steps I introduced earlier.
Naval mine is weapons exploding in the water. This is displayed here because Beppu medical center seen under the stairs were used to be the Navy hospital. It was dedicated by the Navy to commemorate the victory of World War I, and is very valuable nationwide.
Becuase Gyomei Himejima, the character in Demon Slayer uses the weapon with this kind of iron ball, it has become a hot topic among fans.
別府の八幡竈門神社では狛犬のかわりに機雷が出迎えてくれます
— Takayan (@Takayan_T1600) January 1, 2017
※画像はHPより pic.twitter.com/rYzNIVQ1D6
Charm of the Same Color as the Demon Slayer Character
You can receive the shrine’s seal as a stamp and buy some charms to commemorate your visit.
The most attractive charm for Demon Slayer fans is probably this: as you can see the picture below, there are charms of 3 different colors which are the same color as the main characters in Demon Slayer.
Also, you can see a lots of ema* with various Demon Slayer drawing that had been drawn by many fans.
*Ema are wooden plaques that people write their prayers or wishes on.
チグサちゃんはそんなにも鬼滅好きなら…是非一度…地元大分県に…!!
— たっくー (@suwainacikanan) October 17, 2020
八幡竈門神社には絵馬やら炭治郎、禰豆子、善逸柄のお守りあるし
他にも色々ゆかりがありそうな伝説やら、鬼滅仕様の電車も走ってるよ🏋 pic.twitter.com/CFYTwB8r02
At last, there are other fun spots around the shrine, for example, famous hot spring and sightseeing tour called “Hells of Beppu“.
Some of the “Hells of Beppu” is really close to the hachiman kamado shrine, so please try and go if you have a chance!
Basic Information of Hachiman Kamado Shrine
Hachiman Kamado Shrine 八幡竈門神社
・Address: 1900 Uchikamado, Ohaza, Beppu, Ohita
・Tel: 0977-66-1633
Transport / Access to Hachiman Kamado Shrine
Nearest station is Kamegawa station on the Nippo main line operated by JR Kyushu.
(Kamegawa station is located at 2nd station from Beppu station toward Kitakyushu.)
Hachiman Kamado Shrine is located in the Uchikamado district which is about 1km (0.62mile) west from Kamegawa station. It takes about 3 min to get there from Kamegawa station by car.
The necessary time for other departure places
・Kamado Jigoku: 8 min by car
・Chinoike Jigoku: 3 min by car
・Beppu International Tourism Port: 12 min by car
・Beppu Interchange: 15 min by car
・JR Beppu Station: 15 min by car
There is free parking lot (having almost 70 parking spaces).