Egaraten Shrine located in Nikaido, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Pref. is one of Japans three largest Tenjin shrines. Enshrined is Sugawara no Michizane, the courtier-scholar who is believed to be the deity of learning after his death. The legend has it that in 1104, Tenjin ( the spirit of Michizane) dropped from the sky and the villagers, who were awed with Tenjin’s miraculous power, built a shrine at this place. After Minamoto no Yoritomo established his Shogunate government in Kamakura, the shrine was worshipped as the guardian of kimon (the ominous direction) for the government. The name “Egaraten” comes from the place name “Egaya,” which turned into “Egara” in the later periods. Haiden (the hall of worship) stands in the center of the precinct, and Honden (the main hall) is located in back of Haiden. At the present time, a lot of visitors come to pray for academic achievement, and there are a lot of Ema (wooden plaques with prayers or wishes) hung outside Haiden hall. White and light red plum blossoms, which Michizane loved, are in full bloom in spring. Egarate Shrine is visited by a lot of people who seek for success in school entrance examinations and harvest of dilligence.