Hie Shrine is located in Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo, and is one of the five most prestigious shrines in Tokyo.
The Prime Minister’s official residence, the National Diet Building, and other important national facilities are located in the vicinity of Hie Shrine, and the shrine is visited by politicians, including the prime minister.
Front approach to Hie Shrine
The approach to the shrine on the west side of the shrine grounds is lined with an area of torii gates called Senbon-torii (Thousand Torii Gates), which are popular among tourists.
Thousand Torii Gates
About Hie Shrine
Main Hall of Hie Shrine
Although the exact date of Hie Shrine’s founding is not known, it is believed to have its origins in the Kamakura period (1185-1333).
And in 1478, the shrine received a divine spirit from Kawagoe Sanno-sha as a guardian deity of Edo Castle.
Later, when Tokugawa Ieyasu, the future shogun (general), took up residence in Edo Castle, the shrine was revered as “Tutelary god of the castle” and “Childbirth deity of Tokugawa Family”, as well as “The general tutelary god of Edo (Old name of Tokyo)” and “Childbirth deity of Edo” by the citizens of Edo.
Since Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace during the Meiji period (1868-1912), the shrine is still revered today as the guardian deity of the Imperial Palace.
There are approach with escalator
The main deity of Hie Shrine is Ohoyamakui no Kami, and the other deities enshrined in the halls are Kuninotokotachi no Kami, Izanami no Kami, and Tarashinakatsuhiko no Mikoto.
Ohoyamakui no Kami is worshipped as a deity that protects the land, and Hie Shrine is believed to offer various benefits, including protection against bad luck, safe delivery, marriage, prosperous business, and company fortunes.
Sanno Matsuri (Sanno Festival)
The Sanno Matsuri (Sanno Festival), held in June of even-numbered years at Hie Shrine, is called the “Tenka Matsuri”, along with the Kanda Matsuri at Kanda Myoujin Shrine.
“Tenka Matsuri” are representative festival of Edo held since the early Edo period, and has been grandly held as festival officially recognized by the shogunate.
The Sanno Matsuri of Hie Shrine is considered one of the Three Great Festivals in Edo (Sometimes counted as one of the Three Great festivals in Japan), along with the Kanda Matsuri of Kanda Myoujin Shrine and the Fukagawa Matsuri of Tomioka Hachiman Shrine.
INFORMATION
NAME
Hie Shrine (日枝神社)
ADDRESS
2 Chome-10-5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014
ACCESS
3 minute walk from Akasaka Station, Tameike-sanno Station, Kokkai-gijidomae Station, Akasaka-mitsuke Station.
STATION INFO
(Tokyo Metro) Akasaka Station
Chiyoda Line
(Tokyo Metro) Tameike-sanno Station
Ginza Line, Namboku Line
(Tokyo Metro) Kokkai-gijidomae Station
Chiyoda Line, Marunouchi Line
(Tokyo Metro) Akasaka-mitsuke Station
Ginza Line, Marunouchi Line
LINK