Kanda Shrine (Kanda Myojin) [Tokyo]

【Summary】

Kanda Shrine (Kanda Myojin) was founded in 730 and is celebrating its 1300th anniversary. 730, a tribe of the Izumo lineage settled in the area and enshrined Okonoki-no-mikoto as their ancestral deity, When an epidemic broke out in the late 14th century, a memorial service was held for Taira no Masakado, claiming that he was cursed, and he was enshrined as the god Soden.

When Emperor Meiji visited the shrine in 1874, the deity Taira-no-Masakado was removed from the shrine because it was unbecoming for him to be enshrined there, and instead, the deity Shomohiko-no-mikoto was invoked from Oarai Isomae Shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture. The spirit of Taira-no-Masakado was moved to a regal shrine on the shrine grounds, but was restored to the main shrine in 1984 after the war. Therefore, the main deities of Kanda Shrine (Kanda Myojin) are Ohonamuchi no Mikoto, Shonagihiko-no-mikoto, and Taira no Masakado no Mikoto.

【premises】

It is a very open place, so open and beautiful that it is hard to believe that it is a shrine in Tokyo. Within the shrine grounds are the Kanda Myojin Hall and Myojin Kaikan, which are also used as wedding halls.

In addition, the center has also been working hard to respond to inbound travel, attracting a significant number of visitors from overseas. With not only facilities for Shinto rituals, but also commercial facilities and an event hall newly added, it has become one of Tokyo’s leading tourist centers. It is also a popular spot as the sacred site for the drama “VIVANT” and the anime “Love Live! It is also a popular spot as a sacred place for the

The Kanda Myojin Cultural Exchange Center EDOCCO was built as part of a commemorative project to celebrate the 1,300th anniversary of the shrine’s founding, with the aim of communicating traditional Japanese culture to visitors and worshippers from Japan and abroad. The basement, 2nd and 3rd floors are used as halls, and with a large selection of souvenirs for tourists, it is a good place to take a break while sightseeing. It also has a 24-hour amulet vending machine, making it a modern and successful shrine.

【scenery】

The magnificent red Suijinmon gate, made of Japanese cypress, was rebuilt in 1976. During the Warring States period, it was revered by famous warlords such as Ota Dokan and Hojo Ujotsuna, and in the Battle of Sekigahara (1600), Tokugawa Ieyasu prayed for victory and united the country. I thought it was a magnificent Zuijinmon gate suitable for the entrance of Kanda Myojin, the main Shinto shrine of Edo. The gate is not only gorgeous as a whole, but also exquisite in every detail, allowing visitors to enjoy looking at the decorations from various angles and positions.

At the back of the Kanda Myojin precincts, there are many shrines surrounding the main hall. Among them, the Edo Shrine (Suga Shrine) is the first of the three main shrines of Kanda Myojin. It is the oldest jishu shrine in Edo. Other shrines include the Urayasu Inari Shrine, the Kintohira Shrine, and the Odemmacho Yakumo Shrine.

In addition, there are a couple of stone lions on “Shishi-yama” next to the main shrine of Kanda Shrine, which is one of the few stone structures from the Edo period and is designated as a Tangible Folk Cultural Property of Chiyoda Ward.

The shrine is very magnificent, well cleaned, and has a bright atmosphere with many tourists both inside and outside.

【letter bearing the shogun’s scarlet seal】

Red seal letter-placement 300 yen (2023)

【Nearby attractions】

2023年11月17日 Yushima Tenmangu Shrine [Tokyo]

【Access】