Best Shrines around Tokyo and Surroundings Spot List

Nitta Jinja, or the Nitta Shrine, represents a god who is believed to keep people's good fortune and guide them to happiness and is known as a shrine where hamaya (a ceremonial arrow used to drive off evils) originated.

This is a historical shrine built as so-chinju (the general Shinto deity of an area) of Edo, present-day Tokyo. It is crowded with visitors wishing for the prosperity of business, family happiness, and good matchmaking.

Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun of the Tokugawa family in the Edo period, established Sanjusangen-do for the peace in the country, national security, and tempering martial arts. The hall built after the manner of ones in Kyoto became the beginning of Yasaki-inari. The name Yasaki also came from ”yumi” (a bow) and ”ya” (an arrow). Fukurokuju (god of happiness, wealth, and long life) of the seven deities is placed at the right side of the worship hall in front of the main building.

Tenshozan Shrine was founded in 1931. It honors the Japanese gods Ameterasu, Sarutahiko, and Taisei, and people from all over Japan come for the festival held each year on May 22, briefly creating a lively atmosphere. Located deep within the forest, the shrine comes alive in each season with flowers and foliage. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Motohakone for about 40 minutes The shrine is a 30-minute walk from the Shitodo-no-Iwaya Iriguchi bus stop