Shinagawa Shrine

Shinagawa Shrine is a Shintō shrine in Kita-Shinagawa featuring a main hall clad in copper shingles, decorative metalwork, and stone torii gates along rising stone steps. The grounds spread across several terraces, with smaller subsidiary shrines and stone lanterns lining the path to the upper level.

Minamoto no Yoritomo founded the site in 1187 as a protective sanctuary for maritime traffic along the Musashi coastline. The compound underwent several reconstructions over the centuries, most recently after wartime damage in the mid-20th century.

The approach path reflects the site's connection to seafaring and trade, with many visitors hanging wooden prayer tablets beneath the eaves. These tablets carry wishes and images that echo the hopes of sailors, merchants, and residents who have walked these grounds over centuries.

The entrance sits directly north of Shin-Banba Station on the Keikyu Main Line, about a minute's walk away. The steep stone steps can become slippery in wet conditions, so sturdy footwear is recommended.

A 15-meter (49-foot) fujizuka mound rises on the grounds, built in 1869 with lava rocks from Mount Fuji. This mound is considered the largest surviving fujizuka in Japan and originally served as a symbolic substitute for pilgrims unable to climb the actual volcano.

Location: Kita-Shinagawa

Inception: 1187

Founders: Minamoto no Yoritomo

Part of: Tokyo-jissha, 東海七福神

Address: 東京都品川区北品川3-7-15

Website: https://shinagawajinja.tokyo

GPS coordinates: 35.61847,139.73964

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:25