This article is also available in Japanese (日本語). You can refer to it from here.
We will introduce Ishihama Shrine in Minami-Senju of Tokyo, the oldest Shinto shrine in Arakawa Ward, with nearly 1,300 years of history. During the Edo period, ordinary people in the Kanto region visited this shrine instead of Ise Jingu Shrine.
This article contains helpful information for you to visit Ishihama Shrine. All the data is worth knowing, including its history, highlights, enshrined Shinto gods, benefits to worship, and access methods. Just reading this article will make this shrine more interesting to you.
History
According to the shrine, the origin of Ishihama Shrine dates back to the Nara period. This shrine was built in the first year of Jinki (724 AD) by Emperor Shomu.
Even after the Kamakura period, the shogunate regarded Ishihama Shrine as important. For example, in the 5th year of Bunji (1189 AD), Minamoto no Yoritomo stopped by at Ishihama Shrine on the way to the Battle of Oshu to pray for the victory. As Minamoto no Yoritomo won the battle, he built the main building of the shrine. During the 2nd Mongol Invasion of Japan in the 4th year of Koan (1281 AD), Prince Koreyasu, the 7th shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate, visited Ishihama Shrine.
Since the Kamakura Shogunate won in both cases, many people, including the Chiba clan and the Utsunomiya clan, who are the warlords of the Kanto region, revered the shrine. This shrine was famous, especially from the Kenkyu era (1190 AD to 1199 AD) to the Shoji era (1199 AD to 1201 AD). For example, the ordinary people of the Kanto area visited Ishihama Shrine instead of Ise Grand Shrine as it was challenging for them to go to Ise Grand Shrine.
The shrine was destroyed by arson in the 9th year of Showa (1934 AD), and the shrine was rebuilt three years later. However, in World War II, many facilities other than the main shrine building were destroyed by fire. Although it was reconstructed after the war, the shrine was relocated to its current location in the 63rd year of Showa (1988 AD) by the Shirahige Nishi district redevelopment project of Arakawa Ward.
Enshrined Gods and Their Blessings
Amaterasu Omikami (天照大御神)
- Other names: Amaterasu okami (天照大神)
- Divinity: A Shinto goddess of the Sun
- Blessings: Fulfillment of any wishes
Toyouke no Omikami (豊受大御神)
- Other names: Toyoukehime no kami (豊受姫神), Toyouke bime no kami (豊受気毘売神), etc.
- Divinity: A Shinto goddess of food, industry, etc.
- Blessings: Agricultural protection, fisheries protection, industrial prosperity, prosperous business, good luck, calamity prevention, etc.
Jurojin (寿老神)
- Other name: Jurojin (寿老人)
- Divinity: A Shinto god of longevity
- Blessings: Longevity
- Note: This god is enshrined at a subordinate shrine next to the main hall.
Susanoo no mikoto (素戔雄尊)
- Other names: Susanoo okami (素盞雄大神), Gozu tenno (牛頭天王), etc.
- Divinity: A Shinto god of the sea, storm, agriculture, calamity prevention, etc.
- Blessings: Calamity prevention, good fortune, matchmaking, huge harvest, etc.
- Note: This god is enshrined at a subordinate shrine next to the mail hall.
Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真)
- Other names: Tenman tenjin (天満天神), Tenman daijizai tenjin (天満大自在天神), etc.
- Divinity: A Shinto god of leaning, sincerity, calamity prevention, etc.
- Blessings: Academic achievement, calamity prevention, cure of diseases, etc.
- Note: This god is enshrined at Kitano Shrine, a subordinate shrine next to the mail hall.
Yamato Takeru no mikoto (日本武尊)
- Other names: Yamato Takeru no mikoto (倭建命), Ousu no mikoto (小碓命), etc.
- Divinity: A Shinto god of war, agriculture, etc.
- Blessings: National peace, huge harvest, prosperous business, successful career, good fortune, calamity prevention, etc.
- Note: This god is enshrined at Myogi Hachiman Shrine, a subordinate shrine next to the mail hall.
Hontawake no mikoto (誉田別命)
- Other names: Emperor Ojin (応神天皇), Emperor Ojin (應神天皇)、Yahata no kami (八幡神), Homuta no sumera mikoto (譽田天皇), etc.
- Divinity: A Shinto god of victory, war, etc.
- Blessings: Long-lasting fortunes of war, success of competition, successful career, good fortune, etc.
- Note: This god is enshrined at Myogi Hachiman Shrine, a subordinate shrine next to the mail hall.
Taoki ho’oi no mikoto (手置帆負命)
- Other names:
- Divinity: A Shinto god of artisan
- Blessings: Construction industry protection, industrial prosperity, etc.
- Note: This god is enshrined at Araka Shrine (a subordinate shrine.)
Hiko sashiri no mikoto (彦狭知命)
- Other names:
- Divinity: A Shinto god of artisan
- Blessings: Construction industry protection, industrial prosperity, etc.
- Note: This god is enshrined at Araka Shrine (a subordinate shrine.)
Highlights
Torii Gates
On the approach to Ishihama Shrine, there are two tall torii gates built in the Edo period. They are Shinmei torii gates with a straightforward design, a standard torii gate style for Shinto shrines that enshrine Amaterasu Omikami.
The first torii gate was built in the 8th year of Anei (1779 AD) during the Edo period. Typically, the Kasagi of the Shinmei torii (the horizontal pillar at the top of the torii gate) is cylindrical, but the cross-section of the Kasagi of this torii gate is a semi-cylindrical shape.
The second torii gate was built in the 2nd year of Kan’en (1749 AD) during the Edo period. In addition to the characteristics of the first one, the second one has a Gakuzuka (a nameplate) attached to the upper center of the torii gate, which is rare in the Shinmei torii gate.
In the first year of Reiwa (2019 AD), Arakawa Ward designated both torii gates as tangible cultural properties. In addition, some people call these torii gates Ishihama torii gates because they have unique shapes and other Shinto shrines do not have the same one.
Subordinate Shrines
Ishihama Shrine has many subordinate shrines in the precincts. Therefore, you can get a glimpse of the long history of this shrine just by looking at them one by one. Also, you can expect various benefits as so many deities are enshrined.
You can see the following subordinate shrines on the right side of the main shrine building.
- Edo Shrine (江戸神社)
- Kitano Shrine (北野神社)
- Myogi Hachiman Shrine (妙義八幡神社)
- Masaki Inari Shrine (真崎稲荷神社)
- Jurojin (寿老神)
- Hoe Daikokuten (宝得大黒天)
In addition, the following subordinate shrines are located on the right in the approach to the main shrine building.
- Oide Inari Shrine (招来稲荷神社)
- Byakko Hokora (白狐祠)
- Fujizuka (富士塚)
Ishihama Shrine also has Araka Shrine as a subordinate shrine, but you need a reservation to worship this subordinate shrine.
Designated Cultural Properties of Arakawa Ward
Besides the torii gate mentioned above, there are many tangible cultural properties of Arakawa Ward here and there in the precincts of Ishihama Shrine. You will be impressed by looking around them in addition to the subordinate shrines. Here is a list of them and the year they were enshrined.
- The first torii gate (1779 AD)
- The second torii gate (1749 AD)
- The monument of the tales of Ise (1805 AD)
- The monument of Bosai Kameda (1824 AD)
- Araka Shrine (1779 AD)
- Chozubachi (1688 AD)
- Koshinto pagoda towers (1686 AD)
- Fujizuka (1758 AD)
Raku, the Ishihama Saryo Cafe
Ishihama Shrine has a cafe named Ishihama Saryo “Raku” in the precincts. This shrine will celebrate its 1,300th anniversary in 2024, and they opened this cafe in December of the 2nd year of Reiwa (2020 AD) as part of its commemorative project.
One of the things you want to enjoy at Ishihama Saryo is coffee. They use coffee beans from Cafe Bach, one of the four coffee kings of Tokyo, and Goshinsui (sacred water) drawn from a well in the precincts. We rarely have opportunities to dink Goshinsui itself. And drinking coffee with Goshinsui would be even rarer.
As of July 2021, they have different business hours due to the COVID-19 prevention. Therefore, you should refer to the official website of Ishihama Shrine before visiting.
The Twenty-Five Tenjin of Edo (#18)
Kitano Shrine, a subordinate shrine of Ishihama Shrine, is one of the Twenty-Five Tenjin of Edo. This refers to 25 major Tenjin shrines in Tokyo, which enshrine Sugawara Michizane. This concept was established in the 19th century.
Every Tenjin shrine of the Twenty-Five Tenjin of Edo has a unique number. This number indicates the pilgrimage order. Kitano Shrine is #18, for instance.
The Seven Lucky Gods of Asakusa (Jurojin)
Ishihama Shrine enshrines Jurojin of the seven lucky gods, a Shinto god of longevity. Therefore, you can expect longevity and other benefits by worshipping him.
Jurojin at Ishihama Shrine is one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Asakusa. The Seven Lucky Gods of Asakusa refer to the seven lucky gods enshrined at nine Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Taito Ward and Arakawa Ward of Tokyo. Therefore, making a pilgrimage to these nine sites is one good example of enjoying the Asakusa area.
For more information about the Seven Lucky Gods of Asakusa, please refer to the following article:
Other Useful Information
Opening Hours
- From 09:00 to 16:30
TEL
- 03-3801-6425
Address
- Minami-Senju 3-28-58, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-0003
Google Map
Public Transport (Train)
- 15 minutes on foot from Minami-Senju Station on the JR Line
- 15 minutes on foot from Minami-Senju Station onthe Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
- 15 minutes on foot from Minami-Senju Station on the Joban Line
- 15 minutes on foot from Minami-Senju Station on the Tsukuba Express Line
Public Transport (Bus)
- 1 minutes on foot from Hashiba 2-Chome Apaato-mae Stop on Gururi-Megurin of Taito City Circular Route Bus
- 1 minutes on foot from Hashiba 2-Chome Apaato-mae Stop on Toei Bus Route Kusa-42-3 (草 42-3)
Public Restroom Availability
- You can fine one at Ishihama Joshi Park in front of the shrine.
- Raku, the shrine cafe also provides one.
References
