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Have a short trip visiting Seven Lucky Gods in Nihonbashi!
Year 2023 is about to come to an end. Looking back, what have you accomplished? I might have achieved many things, but most of them are fading from my memories, including the historically hot summer. Time flies by as quickly as light. The New Year is approaching rapidly. How are you planning to spend your New Year holidays? Some might return to their hometowns and spend time with family, while others might go abroad for sightseeing. And for some who don't have any special events planned, they might simply enjoy sleeping longer.
If you happen to stay in Tokyo without special events planned for the New Year, why not consider taking a short trip to visit the Seven Lucky Gods in Nihonbashi? Here, I’d like to introduce eight shrines to visit in Nihonbashi during the New Year. Why eight instead of seven? I’ll explain later. Let’s get started.
Who are the Seven Lucky Gods?
The Seven Lucky Gods are the following seven deities. Each deity has special blessings. Since the New Year, the beginning of the year, is a good opportunity to visit all seven deities at once, people visit shrines to obtain their blessings at once.
弁财天-Benzaiten
God bringing luck of money, better performance in music and art
福禄寿-Fukurokuju
God bringing long life and promotion in career
布袋尊-Hoteison
Good bringing smile, happiness and happy marriage
大黒天-Daikokuten
God bringing treasure and good fortune
多闻天王-Bishamonten
God warding off evil and bringing victory
寿老人-Jurojin
God bringing long life and recovery from illness
惠比寿天-Ebisuten
God bringing rush of business and good harvest
Koami Shrine – Benzaiten and Fukurokuju
Koami shrine is dedicated to Benzaiten and Fukurokuju. It does not matter where you start, but I will start from Koami Shrine. Why? Because Koami Shrine is crowded in every New Year. The key to the rest of the itinerary is how smoothly you can visit here. After walking a lot in the cold weather, you don't want to wait in a long line to pay your respects, do you? I recommend you to visit here before you freeze in the cold of winter.
Address: 东京都中央区日本桥小网町16-23(16-23,日本桥Koami-cho,Chu-ku,Tokyo)
Chanoki Shrine - Hoteison
Chanoki Shrine is dedicated to Hoteison. “Cha” means tea, and “Ki” means tree. Collectively, “Chanoki” means “tea tree.” The name of this shrine was derived from the tea trees that surrounded it long ago.
Address: 东京都中央区日本桥人形町1-12-10(1-12-10,日本桥Ningyo-cho,Chu-ku,Tokyo)
Suitengu Shrine - Benzaiten
Suitengu Shrine is dedicated to Benzaiten. It is widely known as a shrine that is beneficial for childbirth. On the day of the dog, which corresponds to the zodiac sign of the dog, the shrine is crowded with parents who have given birth to a child. This is because dogs are considered fertile and symbolize easy childbirth. Benzaiten is enshrined in the vermilion-colored building located in front of the main shrine building.
Address: 东京都中央区日本桥蛎壳町2-4-1(2-4-1,日本桥Quigara-cho,Chu-ku,Tokyo)
Matsushima Shrine - Daikokuten
Matsushima Shrine is dedicated to Daikokuten. “Matsu” means pine tree, and “Shima” means island. It is said that the shrine was surrounded by small islands with pine trees in a cove at the time of its founding long ago. It is known that the "Tori-no-ichi" festival is held on the day of the rooster every November.
Address: 东京都中央区日本桥人形町2-15-2(2-15-2,日本桥Ningyo-cho,Chu-ku,Tokyo)
Suehiro Shrine - Bishamonten
Suehiro Shrine is dedicated to Bishamonten. “Suehiro” is another name for a folding fan. The name of the shrine is derived from the folding fan that was discovered during the shrine's restoration long ago.
Address: 东京都中央区日本桥人形町2-25-20(2-25-20,日本桥Ningyo-cho,Chu-ku,Tokyo)
Kasama Inari Shrine - Jurojin
Kasama Inari Shrine is dedicated to Jurojin. It is a branch shrine that separated from Kasama Inari Shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture, known as one of the three Inari Shrines in Japan, during the mid-Edo period.
Address: 东京都中央区日本桥浜町2-11-6(2-11-6,日本桥Hacho,Chu-ku,Tokyo)
Suginomiori Shrine - Ebisuten
Suginomori Shrine is dedicated to Ebisuten. "Mori" means forest. In Edo period, Suginomori Shrine was counted among the three shrines that have "Mori" in their names, alongside Karasumori Shrine in Shimbashi and Yanagimori Shrine in Kanda. It is well-known as the location where lottery tickets were sold during the Edo period. The stone monument in the shrine's precincts commemorates this event. Those who purchased lottery tickets visit the shrine to pray for a win.
Address: 东京都中央区日本桥堀留町1-10-2(1-10-2,日本桥Horime-cho,Chu-ku,Tokyo)
Takarada Ebisu Shrine - Ebisuten
We've completed our short trip visiting seven shrines dedicated to the Seven Lucky Gods, but you can also consider Takarada Ebisu Shrine as part of these revered shrines, making it the 8th one.
Takarada Ebisu Shrine is dedicated to Ebisuten and is particularly renowned for its "Bettara-ichi" festival, which takes place every October 19 and 20. During this festival, stalls selling "Bettara-zuke," a type of pickled radish unique to Tokyo, line the streets around Takarada Ebisu Shrine and Suginomori Shrine.
Address: 东京都中央区日本桥本町3-10-11(3-10-11,日本桥本町,Chu-ku,Tokyo)
In Conclusion
I introduced the eight shrines in Nihonbashi. How was it? The winter cold can be tough, but when you complete the short trip, there's a sense of achievement. I'd like you to take a leisurely stroll, so intentionally, I won't include a map. Sometimes, getting lost can be enjoyable. Discover your own Nihonbashi. I hope that 2024 will be a great year for you.
Official Website of the Seven Lucky Gods in Nihonbashi: https://www.nihonbashi-shichifukujin.gr.jp/