10 Shrines in Tokyo That Will Answer Your Love Prayers
If you would like to find yourself a wonderful lover, then be sure to visit a shrine if you ever travel to Japan! There are many shrines throughout Japan that bring good luck and fortune in love and marriage. Here are 10 of these shrines in the area around Tokyo.
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1. Tokyo Daijingu Shrine [Iidabashi]
photo.ktdm.jp/flickr photo.ktdm.jp/flickrMarriage shrines are largely divided into two categories: "Ise” and “Izumo”. Tokyo Daijingu Shrine is a shrine with ancient and honorable origins, with its deity having come directly from the topmost Ise shrine, the Ise Grand Shrine. Due to its amazing effectiveness in marriage, it has many visitors. It has over 50 kinds of charms (omamori) and among these, the most popular is the marriage charm in the shape of a lily-of-the-valley flower. The cute white charm resembling a lily-of-the-valley-flower is particularly popular with women.
HP: www.tokyodaijingu.or.jp/english/index.html (English)
HP: www.tokyodaijingu.or.jp (Japanese)
Address: 2-4-1 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 東京都千代田区富士見2-4-1 (Google Map)
2. Izumo Taisha Shrine Tokyo Bunshi [Roppongi]
Kentaro Ohno/flickr Tatsuo Yamashita/flickrIzumo Taisha Shrine Tokyo Bunshi is one of the shrines belonging to the Izumo category. Its deity comes directly from the Izumo Grand Shrine in Shimane Prefecture. Although it’s a relatively small shrine in a corner amongst all the buildings in Roppongi, it never lacks worshippers. This shrine is not only beneficial for finding love, but it’s also good for getting a new job or making friends. If you sew the marriage charm that they sell onto your clothes, you just might have a lovely encounter!
HP: www.izumotaisya-tokyobunshi.com (Japanese Only)
Address: Sophia Roppongi 3F, 7-18-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 東京都港区六本木7-18-5 ソフィア六本木3F (Google Map)
3. Akasaka Hikawa Shrine [Roppongi]
Инариский/flickrAkasaka Hikawa Shrine is a shrine in the city center that is just an 8-minute walk from either Roppongi Station or Akasaka Station. Not only the main shrine, but even the "Shiawase Inari" on the shrine grounds is a popular spot for attracting a good match! In addition to the love charms (which are a cute pastel color), there is also a work charm that can help you find a good job. It’s a shrine with many highlights, so do take your time when you visit!
HP: www.akasakahikawa.or.jp (Japanese Only)
Address: 6-10-12 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 東京都港区赤坂6-10-12 (Google Map)
4. Shiba Daijingu Shrine [Hamamatsucho]
jun560/flickrShiba Daijingu Shrine - which is located near Tokyo Tower - is a shrine that offers good fortune in a wide range of areas like money, business, love and more. Many wedding ceremonies are also held there, so if you’re lucky, you might catch sight of one! If you’re aiming to boost your luck in love, then you’ll definitely want to get your hands on the “chigibako”. It’s a popular charm that helps women find a great partner in love. They’re all handmade, so they might sell out very quickly. If you find one, don’t hesitate to buy it!
HP: www.shibadaijingu.com (Japanese Only)
Address: 1-12-7 Shibadaimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 東京都港区芝大門1-12-7 (Google Map)
5. Imado Jinja Shrine [Asakusa]
toshifukuoka/flickr yukikei/flickrImado Jinja Shrine (which is close to Asakusa) has, according to legend, a married couple enshrined as deities, so it’s thought to grant good fortune with marriage and love. It’s also known as one of the origin areas for the "maneki neko", which beckons good fortune. There are pictures of cats on the charms and the wooden prayer tablets, which are all in the shape of circles. The reason for that is because the kanji character for “circle”, “yen” and “relationship” have the same sound. Take the charm home with you and write your wish on the wooden tablet!
HP: members2.jcom.home.ne.jp/imadojinja/T1.htm (Japanese Only)
Address: 1-5-22 Imado, Taito-ku, Tokyo 東京都台東区今戸1-5-22 (Google Map)
6. Hakusan Jinja Shrine [Hakusan]
sakaki0214/flickr sakaki0214/flickrHakusan Jinja Shrine is in Bunkyo, a calm area with lots of university students. Legend says that its enshrined deities are a married couple and Kukurihime-no-Mikoto. Kukurihime-no-Mikoto is a goddess that intervened between the married couple when they were having an argument. Due to this, in addition to marriage bonds, it’s also said to bring good fortune to those who have been separated once. During the rainy season, some other things you can enjoy are the hydrangeas and cats that roam the shrine grounds.
Address: 5-31-26 Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 東京都文京区白山5-31-26 (Google Map)
7. Myogi Jinja Shrine [Komagome]
Инариский/flickrMyogi Jinja Shrine is the oldest shrine in Toshima. Although it’s known as a shrine for increasing your luck in winning, since it has the same deity that is also enshrined at Tokyo Daijingu Shrine, it also brings good luck in marriage. If you borrow the full strength of the deity, you just might beat your rivals in love! During the sakura season, there are many sakura trees in bloom at the small shrine grounds, so be sure to try and visit then.
HP: www.myogi.tokyo (Japanese Only)
Address: 3-16-16 Komagome, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 東京都豊島区駒込3-16-16 (Google Map)
8. Myotogi Jinja Shrine [Shin-Okubo]
HP: www.geocities.jp/meotogi_j/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 2-27-18 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 東京都新宿区大久保2-27-18 (Google Map)
9. Tokyo Tower Daijingu Shrine [Akabanebashi]
HP: www.tokyotower.co.jp/en.html (English)
HP: www.tokyotower.co.jp/zh.html (Simplified Chinese)
HP: www.tokyotower.co.jp (Japanese)
Address: 4-2-8 Shiba-koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 東京都港区芝公園4-2-8 (Google Map)
10. Omiya Hachimangu Shrine [Eifukucho]
Hidetsugu Tonomura/flickr Hidetsugu Tonomura/flickrOmiya Hachimangu Shrine, which is located a bus ride away from Shinjuku Station, is a shrine that provides good fortune for marriage, childbirth and raising children. On the shrine grounds, there is a pair of gingko trees that are called a married couple, and it’s become a particularly strong power spot. There are many people who say that they’ve seen fairies at this shrine. Although you might imagine dainty, cute girls when you think of fairies, the fairies at this shrine are actually like old men. They bring good luck, so try and find them!
HP: www.ohmiya-hachimangu.or.jp (Japanese Only)
Address: 2-3-1 Omiya, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 東京都杉並区大宮2-3-1 (Google Map)
Thumbnail: Attila JANDI / Shutterstock.com
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.