The real-life location of popular animation and game that is famous as the venue holding one of Tokyo’s major festivals -“Kanda Shrine” with 1,300 years of history

Along with Fukagawa Festival (Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine) and Sanno Festival (Hie Shrine), ‘Kanda Festival’ is one of the three major festivals in Tokyo that have been passed down since the 1800s. Its venue is “Kanda Shrine” established in 730, and it seems that the shrine had been attracting Shogunate and the public people as a shrine protecting Tokyo at the period. Currently, it’s believed that this shrine protects Otemachi and Marunouchi, Nihombashi, Akihabara, Tsukiji Fish Market and so on. This time, we’re going to introduce Kanda Shrine’s history and highlights.

Known as Kanda Myojin, “Kanda Shrine” has a history of 1,300 years and is the sacred place where Ieyasu Tokugawa, the first shogun in Japan, prayed for his victory before the battle changing his destiny in 1600. On the other hand, this shrine is becoming famous even in Japanese subcultures in these days by holding a summer festival in the game ‘Animal Crossing’ and appearing in popular Japanese animation ‘Love Live!.’

When you pass through the Torii Gate, impressive and gorgeous Shinmon Gate welcomes you. It was rebuilt in 1975 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Emperor Showa’s enthronement. Just by taking a closer look, you can find beautiful sculptures such as four gods said to rule over the four directions and mythology of Daikoku (a matchmaking god). The sculpture with gold leaf, showing a hitched horse (Tsunagi Uma), on the second layer is related to Masakado Taira, who was a famous samurai descended from an emperor. Because Kanda Shrine enshrines him as a god warding off evil, so the horse sculpture of his family crest is used.

At the back of the Shinmon Gate, there is the main hall registered as Japanese tangible cultural property. The previous main hall was destroyed by the huge earthquake in 1923, and the current one was reconstructed in 1944. Built using reinforced concrete which was not commonly used for shrines at the time, this shrine is so sturdy that it survived Bombing of Tokyo during the Pacific War. It’s also one of its features that visitors can worship without taking their shoes off.

Don’t forget to draw a fortune slip after visiting the main hall! Although there are various frames to tie fortune slips in the precinct, those who want to fulfill your romance should tie it on the heart-shaped one.