Hie Shrine, Shinto shrine in Nagatachō, Japan
Hie Shrine is a Shinto sanctuary in Nagatachō, a government district in central Tokyo, spread across several levels of a hillside. Red torii gates form a corridor leading to the main building, while side staircases and an escalator ease the ascent and the grounds are framed by office towers.
The site was founded in 1478 and gained importance when the Tokugawa shoguns moved here in the 17th century, donating swords and scrolls to the sanctuary. After destruction in World War II, the current buildings were rebuilt in concrete during the 1950s.
The name derives from Mount Hie near Kyoto, where an older sanctuary once stood, and the site preserves this connection through its spatial arrangement and forms of worship. Believers visit to pray for fertility and safe childbirth, leaving small offerings in front of the monkey figures.
Three subway stations lie within walking distance, with Tameikesannō being the closest, and access via an escalator simplifies the climb. The grounds are freely open during daylight hours, and a full visit takes about 15 to 20 minutes when including the side altars and inner courtyard.
While most shrines display guardian lion-dogs, pairs of monkeys stand at the entrances here, revered as divine messengers of Oyamakui. One of the figures holds a child in its arms, pointing to the aspect of fertility and protection of families.
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