“Mimeguri Shrine,” The Spiritual Spot for Money Luck and Business Prosperity and Photo Spot of TOKYO SKYTREE®️

“Mimeguri Shrine” (三囲神社) located in Sumida-ku, Tokyo Prefecture is a spiritual spot known as one of the Sumidagawa Shichifukujin (隅田川七福神, seven gods of fortune). It has been also famous as a shrine that has a connection with Mitsui (Currently called Mitsukoshi, 三越) since the 1800s. There are various stone monuments, including the stone statue which is believed to bring money luck and business prosperity when touched.

The exact founding of the Mimeguri Shrine is unclear, but it’s said that this shrine was founded by the founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kobo Daishi Kukai (弘法大師, 空海). According to the shrine’s biography, the shrine was built at its current location in the early 700s. There is a legend that when it was rebuilt, a white fox suddenly appeared and ran around the god statue three times before disappearing again, so this is how the shrine got its name “Mimeguri shrine”. You can feel the length of the history from its stately appearance.

In addition, it’s also a famous shrine that is worshiped as the ‘gods of business prosperity’ by the Mitsui family (三井財閥, one of the most powerful families of merchants and industrialists in Japan) in the 1800s. It’s the Chinese character of ‘囲’ which surrounded the character of ‘井’ of 三井 in a square, it’s believed that the character ‘protects Mitsui’. Even now, the spirit of the shrine is enshrined on the rooftop of Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store and Ginza Mitsukoshi. When Mitsukoshi at Ikebukuro closed in 2009, the Lion statue in the store was dedicated to the shrine. It’s now a symbol of Mimeguri Shrine and is known to bring money luck and business prosperity when people touch the foot of the statue.

You can also see TOKYO SKYTREE®️ from the precincts with old votive offerings, including Mitsubashira torii (3 pillar torii) and Mitsukoshi’s lion statue. It makes you enjoy the collaboration between the historical sights that have been around since the 1800s and current sights.