Good luck shrines in and around Tokyo

This shrine stands atop Atago Hill at a height of 26 metres and is dedicated to Homusubi-no-mikoto, a fire deity. It was built in the early days of the Edo Shogunate in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu to protect the capital from fire and disasters.

Its best-known feature is the steep stone staircase of 86 flights, which extends up from the main gate to the leafy inner grounds. The stairs are known as the ‘stone steps to success’, due to an origin story in which Magaki Heikuro, a Sanuki clan member, rode his horse up the hill on the orders of third-generation Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu to prove that he was the best horseman in all of Japan.

This historic shrine in Nihonbashi dates back about 1,000 years. It was miraculously left unscathed by the bombings of World War II and, legend has it, that all the soldiers who received blessings from the shrine during the conflict returned home safely. As such, it is celebrated for its ability to ward off harm. At the annual Doburoku Festival in November, visitors can receive doburoku (unfiltered sake) made from the year’s new grain harvest and witness the Satokagura-mai, a sacred dance that has been designated a national intangible folk culture asset.

Built in 1706, Nezu Shrine is an excellent example of Edo-period shrine architecture. Its majestic red and gold lacquered buildings miraculously escaped destruction by the earthquakes, wars and fires that ravaged Tokyo in the 20th century, leading locals to believe the place is blessed with divine protection. Although Nezu Shrine is famous for the spring blossoming of its 3,000 azaleas, the serene grounds filled with mature, shady trees make it a pleasant spot to visit any time of the year.

This is one of Japan’s three major Hachiman shrines, dedicated to the guardian deity of the Genji clan and the Kamakura warriors. It was established as a branch of Kyoto’s Iwashimizu Hachimangu, where samurai Minamoto no Yoriyoshi prayed in 1603 when he won the battle of Oshu, before returning to Kamakura and established himself as the deity of the Genji clan. The shrine is associated with a wide variety of blessings including romantic success, household safety, health and longevity, academic success and traffic safety. Some 2.5 million people visit the shrine each New Year.

The Hata-age Benzaitensha in Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is home to the Masako Stone, which was placed in memory of Hojo Masako (wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura shogunate and Shinagawa Shrine; see left), who prayed at the shrine for the safe delivery of her baby.