Imado Shrine

The maneki-neko, that distinctive 'beckoning cat' figurine beloved of Japanese shops and pachinko parlours, is believed to have originated at this shrine on the outskirts of Asakusa. Imado Jinja is a popular destination for people seeking good luck in love and marriage, on account of the fact that it enshrines a deity couple: Izanagi and his spouse, Izanami. Naturally, there are feline figurines on sale – available as a pair of conjoined cats – and the fences around the shrine bulge with ema plaques conveying the hopes and prayers of aspiring romantics.