Hie Shrine

Hie Shrine is a prestigious shrine which had received offerings to the god from the imperial family since the Meiji era. The shrine has over 600-years of history and people fondly call the Shrine Sannou-san. The history of the Shrine goes back to the beginning of the Kamakura era when a man named Edo built a Hie Shrine for the guardian deity of his residence. Then later a samurai warrior in the late Muromachi era, Dokan Ota enshrined the Shrine in the Edo Castle. Monkeys have been considered the messenger of the god in the Shrine and there are statues of a monkey couple at the shrine gate and in front of the Haiden hall. The Shrine has been believed to grant many wishes such as for matchmaking, happy marriage and prosperity of family. The Sannno Festival, held in June, is one of the three biggest Japanese festivals along with the Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Tenjin Festival in Osaka. Hundreds of lanterns dedicated to the god are displayed and people enjoy dancing and singing with the joyful sound of taiko drums in the precincts which are usually quiet places. Various events featuring traditional Japanese music, flower arrangements and other themes are also held here. A three-minute walk from Akasaka Station on the Chiyoda Line.