Imado Shrine: a Popular Power Spot for Marriage

Hello, this is the staff of The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon. This time, we would like to introduce Imado Shrine, which is now attracting attention as a “power spot for marriage” among young women.

Access to Imado Shrine

It is about a 20-minute walk from The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon, or about a 1-minute walk from Riverside Sports Center-mae bus stop, the third stop on the Taito City community bus “Kita Megurin” from Tobu Asakusa Station. It is also possible to charter a rickshaw to visit from in front of the hotel.

History of Imado Shrine

The origin of Imado Shrine dates back to the Heian period (1063) when Minamoto no Yoriyoshi, Yoshie, and their son Yoriyoshi, brought the Ishimizu Hachiman Shrine in Kyoto to Asakusa Imanotsu (present-day Imado) and built the Imado Hachiman Shrine. In 1937, the shrine was enshrined together with the adjacent Hakusan Shrine and the name was changed to the current Imado Shrine. After a long period of warfare, and in modern times, the shrine was rebuilt after each earthquake and air raid on Tokyo, and the current shrine building was erected in 1971.

Imado Shrine enshrines the god Fukurokuju, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, and was visited by many worshippers during the “Seven Lucky Gods Tour” that was popular in the Edo period (1603-1868). Even today, as one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune of Asakusa, the shrine is crowded with visitors every New Year’s Day.

今戸神社社殿 — The shrine pavilion has a dignified atmosphere that evokes a sense of history

One of the most popular marriage power spots in Tokyo

Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto, the husband and wife deities enshrined at Imado Shrine, have long been revered as gods of childbirth and spirits, and are worshipped as gods that bring people together and solidify the foundation of production. In recent years, the shrine has become a popular “power spot for marriage”, especially among young women, and many people visit to pray for a good marriage.

今戸神社デュランタ宝塚 — The temple grounds are filled with seasonal flowers, and when we visited in October, the Duranta Takarazuka were in full bloom with beautiful purple flowers

今戸神社四葉のクローバー — Four-leaf clovers, which are said to bring good luck, are also grown here, and the mother of a Shinto priest handed them to us

Association with the Maneki Neko

According to a theory, Imado Shrine is the birthplace of Maneki Neko, and many of them are placed on the shrine grounds. A stray cat named Nami, who sometimes visits the shrine, is also said to bring good luck if you meet her!

今戸神社社殿内 — Large Maneki Nekos also sit in the shrine pavilion

今戸神社社殿奥 — There were many Maneki Neko and an ema (votive picture tablet) praying for a hit musical Cats

今戸神社招き猫 — On our visit, we even got to meet Nami, the stray cat! It is rumored that if you make her your phone’s background screen, you will have good luck.

今戸神社絵馬 — There are also illustrations of beckoning cats on amulets and ema (votive picture tablet). The ema here are an unusual circular shape.

In fact, the Shinto priest of Imado Shrine is a woman. The friendly illustrations and the plants on the shrine grounds are just a few examples of the kind consideration that only a female priestess can give. The mother of the priest is also very friendly, and if you meet her, you will surely receive a lot of energy from her.

This is a spot that you should definitely visit if you take a leisurely stroll from the hotel via Sumida Park, or as part of your Asakusa strolling course by bus or rickshaw.