Recent Additions​

​

January 13: Kanayama Jinja　金山神社

​Although just a subsidiary of Wakamiya Hachiman-Gu this shrine holds one of the most popular festivals in Japan, the Kanamara Matsuriかなまら祭, ‘Festival of the Steel Phallus.’

​

January 13, 2026: Wakamiya Hachiman-Gu　若宮八幡宮

This Hachiman-Gu is quite unusual in that one of its subordinate shrines, Kanayama Jinja, is much better known that it is. The reason is that Kanayama Jinja holds one of the most popular festivals in the country, the Kanamara Matsuri (かなまら祭り, "Festival of the Steel Phallus")

​

December 28: How Many Jinja in Tokyo?

There are at least 2,841 jinja in Tokyo. 2,011 are in the 23 wards of Tokyo proper and 784 are in the cities, towns and villages of Greater Tokyo.

​

December 14:  Akabane Hachiman Jinja　赤羽八幡神社

​Probably founded in 784. Part of its homepage is taken up by a description of the effect railways, in particular the Shinkansen, have had on the shrine. It is regarded as a sacred site by fans of two idol groups, in particular SUPER EIGHT, previously known as  Kanjani∞ (関ジャニ∞). The infinity mark∞ at the end of the name is also found on some of the shrine’s ema and Goshuin (御朱印, seal stamp given to, more accurately sold to, worshippers and visitors to shrines).

​

November 26: Sazare-ishi  さざれ石

​My interest in Sazare-ishi was piqued after coming across them at both Okawa Jinja and Meguro Hachiman Jinja. Sazare-ishi literally means gravel/pebbles or boulder formed from gravel and sediment. They are stone monuments wishing  the emperor a long life in  accordance with Kimigayo, the Japanese national anthem.

​

November 23: Okawa Jinja　　　大川神社

The shrine legend tells us that its origins date to March 23, 485. It is included in the Tango Province, Kasa District entry in the Engi-Shiki, where of eleven shrines it is the only one designated as major. It is also one of the 285 shrines listed in the same work whose Kami is officially recognized as Myojin (名神).It is also mentioned in the Six National Histories.

​

November 15: Meguro Hachiman Jinja　目黒八幡神社

​Probably founded in the 1660s as part of the Edo Bakuhu's campaign to strengthen rural loyalty by having the peasantry worship Hachiman, the guardian deity of the Minamoto clan. ​

​

November 7:   Otori Jinja   大鳥神社

​The oldest shrine in Tokyo's Meguro-ku. Its origins date back to 71-130, although it was not officially founded until 806. It is situated on an intersection of the busy Meguro-dori and Yamata-dori highways; the intersection is called Otori Jinja.Its celebration of the Tori-no-Ichi (酉の市) festival is one of the most popular in the city. 

​

October 26:    Sakuramori Inari Jinja          櫻森稲荷神社

Relatively little is publicly known about this Inari Jinja. It is most notable for the two Koshin-to in its grounds. One of the two dates to 1730, the other to 1810. ​

​

October 19:   Himonya Hachiman-Gu         碑文谷八幡宮

It is said that this particular Hachiman-Gu was founded sometime during the Kamakura Period. The current shrine buildings were rebuilt in 1674, renovated in 1872 and again in 1887.  Until the Separation of  Shinto and Buddhism Act was enacted along with the Meiji Restoration, the shrine’s affairs were managed by a sub-temple in the grounds of the nearby Enyu-ji Temple, Jingu-in.

​

Oct ??:   Kameido Katori Jinja                   亀戸香取神社

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​​​　

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​