Takanawa Shrine, Shinto shrine in Japan
Takanawa Shrine is a small Shinto shrine in Minato-ku, Tokyo, with modest, well-maintained structures and traditional wooden buildings featuring gently curved roofs. The grounds include several buildings, notably the Taishi-Gu dedicated to Shotoku Taishi, and guardian stone statues called koma-inu at the entrance.
The shrine was founded in the late 1400s and was originally dedicated to Inari, the spirit of harvest. A major fire destroyed most buildings in the mid-1800s, but the shrine was rebuilt several times, with the current main hall completed in 1980.
The shrine is dedicated to UGA, a deity associated with grain and food in Japanese tradition. Visitors come to pray for good harvests and leave small offerings as expressions of gratitude and hope.
Access to the shrine is straightforward, with nearby train stations and it is easily reached on foot. The grounds are manageable to explore on foot, with stone paths surrounded by trees and lanterns that create a peaceful setting.
Visitors can write wishes on traditional wooden tablets called ema and hang them at the shrine. A fire-extinguishing ceremony unique to the location holds special meaning in local traditions.
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