Many travelers visit shrines on their trip to Japan. Each shrine has its own cultural history and one of the things that most shrines have in Japan are good luck charms or amulets. These range from good luck in fortune to relationships, education and even road safety. In this feature, we talk about some of the most adorable amulets available in Tokyo's shrines.
Kanda Shrine (神田神社)
Kanda Shrine is located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, with a history of more than 1,300 years. It is also where the Kanda Festival takes place annually in mid-July.
The cute amulet of Kanda Shrine is a delicate little horse, the ancient means of transportation, meant to provide "traffic safety".
Kanda Shrine is a short walk from Akihabara. From the ema (votive tablets) here, you can figure out how many anime and manga fans visit here.
Kanda Shrine is considered one of the holy places among anime fans because it appeared in "Love Live!"
In addition to traffic safety, Kanda Shrine has over 60 different amulets!
Details Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/mxipjEbKiDM2 Official website: https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/
Omiya Hachimangu (大宮八幡宮)
Omiya Hachimangu Shrine in Saitama was founded in 1063 and is known for a "safe birth" (安産).
There is a little wooden fox on the amulet.
In addition to the production of amulets, the votive tablets have an image of a mother and child.
Don't you think this sign is a bit familiar? This is a sign used on a strap and women who are pregnant use it to inform others that they are pregnant. All mothers will receive the pink heart-shaped key chain which is extremely helpful in getting seats in crowded trains.
Details Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/rvKuPt2JJU12 Official website: https://www.ohmiya-hachimangu.or.jp/
Tokyo Daijingu (東京大神宮)
Tokyo Daijingu is famous for prayers being answered for finding a partner (縁結び good relationships).
It is one of the most popular shrines among women. This lily of the valley amulet (700 yen) is beautifully designed and can even be used as jewelry.
The red and white ropes on the ema are also meant for blessings in finding love.
The omikuji (fortune slip) is a tiny origami doll in a kimono.
Japanese like to guess blood types and believe in compatibility based on blood types, so there is also a blood type omikuji!
Details Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/ugZB65ZCpWL2 Official website: http://www.tokyodaijingu.or.jp/
Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine (鳩森八幡神社)
The representative animal of this shrine is a pigeon (Japanese: 鳩)
When the omikuji is tied it turns into a cute pigeon!
Details Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/v4JsmpF1zK82 Official website: http://www.hatonomori-shrine.or.jp/
Konno Hachimangu (金王八幡宮)
Founded by the Shibuya Clan in around 1092, it was dedicated to the god of war, Hachiman.
Luckily, this shrine wasn't destroyed after WWII and the fortune slip is that of a fish which says "one year of safety."
Details Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/TJAL2ZVFKKn Official website: http://www.geocities.jp/ynycr674/English/englishindex.html
Hie Shrine (日枝神社)
Hie Shrine sits on top of a hill and has an imposing gate on the main road.
The mamori is in the shape of a cute monkey!
A selection of various amulets!
Even the ema have an images of mother monkey and baby monkey.
Hie Shrine is known for its rows of torii, similar to Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Taisha and makes for a perfect photo spot!
Details Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/BAkkFfRM96P2 Official website: https://www.hiejinja.net/
Otori Shrine (鷲神社)
One of the most popular shrines for the famous November festivals of Tori-no-Ichi where thousands visit to pray for business prosperity and buy kumade.
One of the many charms here is that of a maneki-neko (lucky cat).
You can find a fortune slip from under the cat! How cute is that!
Details Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/GzyBZof4LST2 Official website: http://www.otorisama.or.jp/ So will you be collecting some of these gorgeous o-mamori?
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