Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu before the Meiji era in its name had also "Jingu" and was considered both a temple of the two religions - Shinto and Buddhism. Meiji government decided to eliminate this confusion of religions for political reasons. As a result, the division suffered some of the structure of the temple complex, but in general his appearance remained the way it was built on a hill cranes in Kamakura in the XII century.

Today, the temple is the most important Shinto sanctuary on its territory there are two museums - the Museum of national treasures and the Museum of Modern Art of Kamakura. In addition, there are already many centuries competitions in archery on horseback - yabusame. This kind of military training is originated in Kamakura and XII-XIV centuries was a must for high-ranking samurai.

The temple was dedicated to the god of war and warriors Hatimanu, which representatives of the Minamoto clan considered their patron .  At its present location the temple was built in 1180 by the Shogun Yoritomo Minamoto-no .  The history of the church is largely due to the tragic facts - almost every object temple complex represents an event in the distant past bloodshed .  That is, for example, the symbolism of the two ponds, Genji and Heike .  In one of the three islands (the number "three" is a symbol of life), and the other - four ("four" in Japan is equivalent to the word "death") .  In one pond grow white lotuses, and the second red .  Pond with white lotus symbolized the Minamoto clan, and a pond with a red - Taira clan .  Both clans long at odds with each other .  Red lotus signified the blood shed by the representatives of the Taira clan .  These two arched bridge connects the reservoir Taiko-bashi, on which he could walk only a shogun, and for his retinue was intended generally flat bridge .

As a revered shrine in the temple of the thousand-year ginkgo tree, which was in 1219 hiding Kugё - Shogun Assassin Sanetomo Minamoto. March 10, 2010, a giant tree collapsed by strong gusts of wind, now this place is growing protects young shoots.

The scene for the ritual dances Mayden became known after beauty danced here Shizuka - beloved half-brother of disgraced Shogun Ёrimoto. A woman whose lover and a child were killed on the orders of the ruler had to dance before the Shogun, after which she was released on all four sides. Shizuka became a nun and lived in a hut near the walls of the monastery and soon died. Backstage Mayden is the main building of the temple, which consists of a chapel and sanctuary.

Only Alley Sackur wakame Oji does not have in its past such tragic stories. Alley leading to the temple, Yoritomo was planted in a sign of gratitude to the gods, to give him an heir.