Togo Shrine

Togo-jinja Shrine enshrines Marshal Heihachiro Togo, who defeated the Russian Baltic Fleet. Heihachiro Togo was born in 1847 in Kagoshima City as the fourth son of Kizaemon Togo, a samurai warrior in the Satsuma Domain. As Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), he defeated the Baltic Fleet. He was then put in charge of the education of the future Showa Emperor for seven years from 1914. He passed away in 1934 at 88. Upon his passing, there were calls for him to be enshrined; donations gathered at the Ministry of the Navy led to the establishment of the Foundation for the Marshal Togo Memorial, and of Togo-jinja in 1940. The shrine was bombed twice between 1944 and 1945, with the main shrine burning down the second time. The current main shrine was reconstructed in May, 1964. Known as the shrine of the god of victory, it attracts those wishing to prevail in fields including sports, academics, illness and love. A three-minute walk from the Takeshita Exit of Harajuku Station brings you to the site.