Takanawa Shrine

Tucked away among the high-rises and residential streets of Takanawa in Tokyo's Minato Ward, this is a quiet little shrine that's easy to miss if you aren't looking for it.

It's well-connected to Sengakuji Station, the new Takanawa Gateway Station, and Shinagawa Station, which makes it a familiar visit for both locals and people coming from farther afield.

A small but mighty power spot

The shrine is said to have been founded during the Meiō era, between 1492 and 1501, and was originally known simply as Inari Shrine. In the mid-Edo period, two more halls were added. One is Taishi-dō, dedicated to Prince Shōtoku, the statesman said to have laid down many of Japan's foundational systems and its first constitution. The other is Kōshin-dō, associated with prayers for warding off illness and granting long life. The shrine's chikara-ishi, large lifting stones once used in tests of strength, are designated as a cultural property of Minato Ward.

It's not a large shrine, but it has long been popular as a power spot, drawing people who pray for safety at home, success in study, finding good relationships, prosperity, recovery from illness, and safe travels.

A peaceful pocket of calm in the city center

Despite being so close to Takanawa Gateway and Sengakuji Stations, this is more of a neighborhood shrine than a tourist spot, with a settled, relaxed atmosphere. It's the kind of place that suits anyone who wants to take their time at a shrine, or simply step away from the noise of the city for a while.