Fukutoku Shrine

Tucked among the shopping complexes and office buildings of Nihonbashi in central Tokyo, this shrine has long been a popular place to pray for winning the lottery or hard-to-get concert tickets. In recent years, more and more visitors have been stopping by to wish for blessings related to oshikatsu, the act of devoting time and energy to a favorite idol, character, or artist.

A long history, still beloved today

Fukutoku Shrine

Fukutoku Shrine is said to have already existed by the Jōgan era, between 859 and 876. Its alternate name, Mebuki Inari, meaning "Sprouting Inari," comes from a visit by Tokugawa Hidetada, the second shogun of the Edo shogunate, who noticed fresh buds growing on the shrine's torii gate.

The shrine has been moved many times over the years, especially after the Great Kantō Earthquake and again during postwar redevelopment. It only settled at its current location near Coredo Muromachi in Nihonbashi in 2014. For about half a century before that, it stood on the rooftop of an office building.

Easy access from Mitsukoshimae and Nihonbashi Stations

The street between Coredo Muromachi 1 and 2 serves as the approach to Fukutoku Shrine.

The street running between Coredo Muromachi 1 and Coredo Muromachi 2, both directly connected to Mitsukoshimae Station, serves as the shrine's approach. It's an unusual setup, finding a shrine tucked inside a major shopping district, and many visitors stop by while out shopping or eating, keeping the area lively day after day.
During the redevelopment, a small grove called Fukutoku-no-Mori was created next to the main hall. The greenery makes for a surprisingly relaxing pocket of nature in the middle of downtown Tokyo.

Popular for prayers to win the lottery and concert tickets

Tomi-kuji, the direct ancestor of today's lottery, began as a fundraising system to collect money for shrine and temple repairs. Because buyers had a chance to win a prize, it spread widely as a form of entertainment. The takarakuji lottery tickets that people still buy today, placing their dreams on each one, share this same lineage.

Fukutoku Shrine was one of the few shrines licensed by the Edo shogunate to sell tomi-kuji during the Bunsei and Tenpō eras of the early 1800s. The auspicious shrine name itself, Fukutoku, meaning good fortune and virtue, drew attention, as did the presence of Benzaiten, a goddess of wealth, who was also enshrined here.

Thanks to that history, many people still come to pray for lottery wins and better luck with money. The shrine has also become known as an "oshikatsu shrine," with a reputation for helping fans land tickets to highly competitive concerts, live shows, and theater performances. Online reviews are full of stories from visitors who hit the lottery or got their hands on a sought-after ticket after praying here.

Every year on September 2, the shrine holds a Special Lottery Day Visit, named after a play on the numbers 9 (ku) and 2 (ji), which together sound like kuji, the Japanese word for lottery. A dedicated spot for making lottery wishes is set up for the occasion.