The ichinomiya of Bungo Province

What the Japanese sources say

Two shrines, Sasamuta Jinja (西寒多神社) and Yusuhara Hachimangu (柞原八幡宮), both call themselves the ichinomiya of Bungo — the shrine ranked first in the province.

Sasamuta Jinja’s own website cites a court rank granted to its deity in Jōgan 10 (869), its standing as a major Engishiki shrine in the Engishiki Jinmyōchō (延喜式神名帳), the register of official shrines, of Engi 5 (905), and its designation as a mid-ranking national shrine (kokuhei chūsha) in 1871. No mention of the ichinomiya could be confirmed on the official pages of the city of Ōita or of Ōita Prefecture, however.

For Yusuhara Hachimangu, the city of Ōita describes it as the ichinomiya of Bungo Province. The shrine itself says that the deity was brought from Usa Jingu in Tenchō 4 (827), that the provincial governor built its halls in Jōwa 3 (836), and that from Chōtoku 4 (998) it rebuilt its halls every 33 years, as Usa Jingu did.

— The difference in character can be read off: Sasamuta rests on ancient state ranking (a major Engishiki shrine), Yusuhara on the deity brought from Usa Hachiman and on the growth that came with the reverence of the provincial governors, the Ōtomo clan and the lords of the Funai domain (this is our own reading).

Written from Japanese sources, each quoted. The Japanese page has the same discussion with the original wording.