Hikawa-jinja, Shinto shrine in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Hikawa-jinja is a Shinto shrine in the Bunkyo district of Tokyo, with traditional wooden gates, stone lanterns, and old Japanese elm trees spread across its grounds. Several smaller buildings, a pond, and prayer areas divide the site into distinct zones.
The shrine was founded in 1469 as an outpost of a larger shrine in Saitama and served the local community for centuries. It was destroyed during the Second World War and rebuilt by local residents by 1955.
The shrine draws locals together during seasonal festivals, when the grounds fill with people taking part in shared rituals. The summer Bon-Odori gathering is one of the most visible of these events, with community members dancing together in a circle around a central point.
The grounds are easy to reach on foot and separated from the surrounding streets by a tree-lined path. On most days the site is calm, but expect larger crowds around the New Year period when many people come to pray.
One of the services offered here is a blessing ceremony for pets, where owners bring their animals to receive protection and good fortune. This type of ceremony exists at a few shrines in Japan, but it is practiced regularly at this one in Bunkyo.
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