Kanda-myōjin, Shinto shrine in Soto-Kanda, Tokyo, Japan
Kanda-myōjin is a Shinto shrine in Soto-Kanda, Tokyo. Its main hall is painted red with white plaster panels and gold accents, topped by a green roof with a curved gable; a lower roof covers a raised veranda, and metal lanterns hang under the eaves. A teal-green metal torii with a blue plaque bearing gold characters stands before the two-storey building.
Founded in 730 at Shibasaki village near present-day Ōtemachi, the shrine was moved to Kanda in 1603 to make room for Edo Castle's expansion, then to its current hill near Akihabara in 1616. The head of Taira no Masakado, killed in 940, was buried nearby and he was enshrined here in 1309.
The sanctuary attracts many visitors from the nearby electronics district who purchase charms to protect their computers and phones. During the Kanda Matsuri festival in May, locals carry portable shrines through the streets and celebrate with loud music and traditional costumes.
The complex opens daily and sits about a five-minute walk from several train stations. Visitors can walk through the grounds for free but should remain quiet and respectful around prayer areas.
The concrete construction completed in 1934 survived the firebombing of World War II almost undamaged while the city around it burned. Today, students and business people carry small wooden plaques with prayers and wishes to the deities of commerce and technology.
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