Shinagawa Shrine

A multi-purpose sacred place

Karin Wu Jul 14, 2013 - 1 min read

Shinagawa Shrine stone tablet and a sign encouraging people to come once a month

Daikokuten, a god from India, who stands for prosperity, especially in the kitchen

Hydrangea and lanterns along the side of the stairs

Another shimenawa (rope ring) with instructions on how to properly enter the sacred area

Omikuji (fortune slips) and ema (wooden plaques to write wishes on) for good luck

Close to the northern exit of Shinbanba Station is Shinagawa Shrine, built in 1187 as a part-time residence to the god Amanohiranomenomikoto. It is also one of the Tokyo-jissha (ten shrines of Tokyo), designated by Emperor Meiji as a place of worship to pray for the nation’s prosperity. Thus, it is a part of several different types of pilgrimages. While containing many of the usual sights at a typical Japanese shrine, there is also a smaller Ana Inari Shrine to wash your money for good luck, which, according to an elderly woman I met there, one usually has to go to Kamakura to do.

Karin Wu @karin.wu

Hi! I'm Karin Wu and I'm currently living and working in Tokyo. I took part in the photojournalism internship for JapanTravel in 2013, and I now contribute every so often when I can get out on the weekends. Writing is a passion of mine, and this site gives me not only an additional excuse to expl...