Hata-age Benzaiten Shrine

According to legend, Minamoto no Yoritomo prayed to Benzaiten here before launching his campaign against the rival Taira clan in 1180. He won, eventually establishing Japan's first warrior government with Kamakura as its center. The shrine has been part of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu ever since. The current building, rebuilt in 1980 for the shrine's 800th anniversary, carries a carving of Benzaiten playing a biwa lute above the stairs. White banners on the grounds are modeled on those the Minamoto used in battle, dedicated by worshippers hoping for the same divine favor. Behind the shrine, the Masako Stone, named for Yoritomo's wife, is a spot for prayers about marriage and fertility.