![]() ![]() Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu was a common visitor to Hie Shrine, who worshiped Hie-no-kami as a protector of Edo. The kami enshrined here is commonly known as Hie-no-kami, the god of Mt. Go through one of three entrances to the main shrine and you’ll walk through a set of steps that are enclosed in a tunnel of bright red torii gates. Hie Shrine (日枝神社), located between the Imperial Palace grounds and Roppongi, is famous for its beautiful red torii gates. The Hanazono Shrine’s kami is Inari, the god of rice and prosperity, so it only makes sense that this is a popular place for businessmen to come and pray for prosperity. Don’t let the location dim your expectations of this shrine, though-its bright red facade, two enormous torii gates, and wide-open grounds are as impressive as any other shrines in Tokyo. ![]() The Hanazono Shrine (花園神社) is tucked away behind the neon lights of Shinjuku, and is only a one-minute walk from the popular Shinjuku Gai, aka “piss alley”. Because it’s located to Akihabara, the mecca for tech-lovers, Kanda Myojin also sells omamori (good luck charms) to bless electronic devices! Most people will come here to pray to two of the seven Gods of Fortune: Daikokuten, the god of good fortune, bountiful harvests, and matrimony, Ebisu, the god of fisheries and business prosperity. It was an especially important shrine during the Edo period because Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of Japan, paid his respects here. The Kanda Myojin Shrine (神田明神) is one of Tokyo’s oldest shrines, believed to have first been built in 730. Being so close to this market, you can expect to find many sushi-related items on the shrine’s grounds as well: there are several stone sculptures called tsuka that were built to honor things of value, including sushi, eggs, shrimp, angler, and clam! Namiyoke Inari Shrine (波除稲荷神社) was built in the mid-1600s at the water’s edge, so it was only fitting that the name of the shrine related to its location: the Japanese directly translates to “protection from waves.” The shrine is located next to Tsukiji fish market and serves as the guardian for the merchants and the marketplace as a whole. This shrine isn’t just for praying either: the shrine hosts dozens of traditional Japanese weddings!Ī post shared by Japan Wonder Travel on at 6:01pm PDT Because of the impressive Shinto structures, the strong connection to Japanese culture, and convenient location beside Harajuku station and Yoyogi Park, Meiji Jingu is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting Tokyo.ĭuring the new year, over three million Japanese will come visit Meiji Jingu to pray and open the new year. ![]() It is an imperial shrine that was built in dedication to the first emperor of modern Japan, Emperor Meiji, and his wife, Empress Shoken. Meiji Jingu Shrine(明治神宮) is without a doubt one of Japan’s most famous shrines. Savvy Tip: When visiting, be sure you know the proper prayer etiquette: shake the rope to ring the bell, throw a coin into the offertory box, bow twice, clap twice, pray, and bow one final time. ![]() And those white paper zigzags you see hanging around shrines are s himenawa which mark the boundary of something or someplace that is deemed to be sacred. Another way to show respect is to purify yourself before entering the main hall of a shrine by washing your hands and mouth at a temizuya purification trough. Because shrines are such a sacred place, you’ll often see locals bowing before and after passing through a torii gate. The most famous and hard-to-miss one is the torii gate: a tall, vermillion gate that marks the entrance to a shrine. There are certain structural elements that are almost always present at shrines. A few weeks after a baby is born, the family will often take the baby to a shrine to be blessed and to pray for its future. We see this during the new year when locals visit shrines to pray for good fortune and a prosperous coming year. These jinja (神社, shrines) house one or more kami, in addition to a holy item that is related to the kami of that shrine.Īlthough the general population is slowly moving away from practicing daily Shintoism, worship and rituals are still deeply embedded within Japanese culture. With an estimated 80,000 Shinto shrines scattered across Japan, they are a very important part of Japanese tradition and culture. Take a step back into Japanese history and experience authentic Japanese culture by visiting the most impressive shrines around Tokyo. For over a thousand years, rituals and festivals have taken place to worship sacred shrines that shrine kami (Shinto gods) all around Japan. ![]()
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