Recent Additions​

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February 4:  Mishima Jinja　三島神社

The origins of this shrine are almost identical to those of Motomishima Jinja. T​here is one difference. The Mishima Jinja homepage tells us that when Kawano Michiari set off to fight the Mongols he was led by the  shrine's divine messenger, a white heron. This is not mentioned in the Motoshima Jinja homepage. The subsidiary jinja, Hiyoke Inari Jinja, is the Land Kami ( 地主神, jinushikami). for the area.

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January 27:  Motomishima Jinja　元三島神社

​The origins of this shrine date to around 1274, when a military leader of the Kamakura Shogunate was about to lead troops into battle during the second Mongol invasion of Japan. He prayed for success at a local shrine, Oyazumi Jinja and after winning the battle had a vision which led to the shrine’s foundation.

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anuary 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.’

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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")

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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. ​

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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. 

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