Ushima Jinja

November 12, 2015 by Brennan Duff in Shrine

Ushima Jinja, also referred to as Ushijima Jinja, is a small shrine on the north end of Sumida Park in Asakusa. It was founded in 860 and is noted for surviving the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the fire bombs of WWII.

For the casual: 7. For the educated: 6.

Ushima Jinja is a really cool shrine with some really cool things. The shrine has a a stone statue of a cow which is a source of good luck by rubbing the cow where you would like to be healed. Sumida Park is a great little break from the city with wonderful winding paths, and the shrine is definitely a great addition to the park. To the south are the headquarters of Asahi Brewing (what I will say is that they chose the wrong architect for that building). To the east is Tokyo Skytree Tower, the tallest tower in the world (not to be confused with tallest building). The only issue is the highway overpass which follows the west side of the park.

The statue of the healing cow is under the small overhang.

Asakusa Jinja

November 12, 2015 by Brennan Duff in Shrine

Asakusa Jinja was built in the Kamakura period around the turn of the 13th century by the townsfolk. The shrine is dedicated to the three individuals who founded Sensôji, the temple only about 50 feet to the left of the shrine. Since it was the founding of the temple which essentially started the city of Asakusa, the three individuals, Hajinomatsuti (the local lord), Hamanari, and Takenari (the two fishermen who found the statue of Kannon) and thereby considered founders of the city. Every spring is the Sanja Matsuri, considered one of the three Great Festivals of Edo (Tokyo), which closes down the streets of Asakusa as people crowd the streets and religious sites.

For the casual: 9. For the educated: 9.

This quaint little shrine is a fun place to visit. Right next to Sensôji, Asakusa Jinja is connected to all of the same sorts of activities that visitors can take advantage of as Sensôji. Craft shops, yukata stores, and so much more are within walking distance of the shrine gates.

Mikoshi, palanquins that transport enshrined gods, make their way to Asakusa Jinja during the Sanja Matsuri.

The Sanja Matsuri is such a big event that they close down even the big streets for mikoshi and visitors to travel.

Shrine Maidens before performing for the Sanja Matsuri.

Tomioka Hachimangû

November 09, 2015 by Brennan Duff in Shrine

Founded in 1627, Tomioka Hachimangû is the largest Hachimangû shrine in Edo (Tokyo). Like Kanda Jinja and Hikawa Jinja, Tomioka Hachimangû is one of the great shrines which forms a circle around the Tokyo city center; the old Edo Castle center. Tomioka Hachimangû is also known for having one of the 3 great matsuri (festival) in Tokyo as well as its mikoshi (portable golden shrine used in matsuri) and Grand Champion Sumo Wrestler Stone.

For the casual: 8. For the educated: 7.

Centered in a really cool area of Koto ward, Tomioka Hachimangû is a beautiful shrine to visit. Mostly I would say go for the restaurants next door, but the shrine is also a really cool place to visit with a great old main hall, well kept grounds, and no tall buildings to block the warm sun.

Nikkô Futarasan Jinja

November 08, 2015 by Brennan Duff in Shrine

Nikkô Futarasan Jinja is the oldest shrine in the Nikkô UNESCO complex, and is dedicated to the three main mountains in the area: Nantai-san, Nyoho-san, and Taro-san. Futarasan is another name for Nantai-san which is appropriate considering that the shrine complex sits at the foot of this particular mountain. Nikkô Futarasan Jinja was founded in 782 by Shodo Shonin, the same traveling monk who founded Rinnôji only a few meters away. Nikkô Futarasan Jinja houses the enshrined spirits of the mountains, the same spirits I mentioned in my post about Rinnôji that were deified as Buddhist reincarnations at Rinnôji.

For the casual: 10. For the educated: 10.

Though not as flashy as its younger sibling Nikkô Tôshôgû, Nikkô Futarasan Jinja is arguably the more sacred of the two since it is older and is the principal shrine to the regional deities. The shrines are beautiful as they sit comfortable beneath massive cypress trees with amazing entrances for guests to enter through. Together with Nikkô Tôshôgû and Rinnôji, Nikkô Futarasan Jinja completes the Nikkô UNESCO World Heritage Site.