Power Spots in Tokyo: Shrines, Temples and Sacred Places

Anamori Inari Shrine (穴守稲荷神社) A short walk from Anamori-inari Station

Haneda's own shrine began in the early 1800s on a sea embankment, built to protect the rice fields from breaches in the dike; the name means "guarding the hole". It became famous for its tunnels of red torii and, later, for aviation. As the airport grew up around it, airline staff started coming here to pray for safe flights. After 1945 the area was cleared for the airport, and the shrine moved to where it stands today.

Walk through the torii to the inner shrine behind the main hall. Visitors have long taken home a pinch of the shrine's sacred sand, said to bring customers to a business. It's small, local and very quiet early in the morning: the easiest power spot on this page, and the closest to your door.

Kawasaki Daishi (川崎大師) About 20–35 minutes from Haneda

Formally called Heiken-ji, this large Shingon temple is one of the Kanto region's best-known places for yakuyoke, protection in the years traditionally considered unlucky. The goma fire ritual is performed in the main hall several times a day, and visitors are welcome to attend. At New Year it's one of the busiest temples in Japan. The approach is lined with candy and sweet shops, so the walk back is part of the visit.

Sengakuji (泉岳寺) Sengakuji Station

This Zen temple holds the graves of the 47 ronin, the samurai who avenged their lord in the winter of 1702 and were then ordered to take their own lives. It's less a place for luck than for loyalty and resolve, and visitors still leave incense at every grave. The anniversary festival on 14 December is its busiest day.

Zojo-ji (増上寺) Daimon or Onarimon Station

The family temple of the Tokugawa shoguns, with Tokyo Tower rising straight up behind its main hall. You'll walk past rows of small stone Jizo statues in red bibs and knitted hats, left by families remembering children who died young. They're a reminder that this is a place of mourning as well as a photo backdrop.

Koami Shrine and Suitengu Ningyocho Station

Koami Shrine (小網神社) is tiny but famous for kyoun yakuyoke: strong luck and protection from misfortune. Its hall, built in 1929, is the only pre-war shrine building left in Nihonbashi, and two dragons are carved on its front: one carries prayers up, the other brings blessings down. At its well, known as Tokyo's money-washing Benzaiten, people rinse coins or notes and tuck them into their wallets. The shrine sits on a narrow residential street and queues form on lucky days, so wait along the side and keep the road clear.

Suitengu (水天宮), a few minutes' walk away, is where expectant parents come to pray for a safe birth, especially on the "dog days" (戌の日) of the old calendar. Visit quietly, and don't photograph families at their prayers.

Senso-ji (浅草寺) Asakusa Station

Tokyo's oldest temple traces its founding to 628, when, the story goes, two fishermen pulled a statue of Kannon out of the river. Walk under the great lantern of Kaminarimon and along the Nakamise shopping street, then waft smoke from the incense burner in front of the main hall over yourself; it's said to heal whatever part of you it touches. Senso-ji's fortune slips (おみくじ) are known for their high share of bad fortunes. If you draw one, tie it to the rack and leave it behind.

Atago Shrine (愛宕神社) The steps of success

Atago Shrine stands on Atagoyama, the highest natural hill in Tokyo's 23 wards at a modest 26 meters or so. You reach it by 86 very steep stone steps known as the "steps of success" (出世の石段). Legend says that in 1634 a samurai named Magaki Heikuro rode his horse up them to pick plum blossoms for the shogun, and was promoted for it. Climbing them is said to help your career. The gentler slope to one side is the sensible way down, and the way up if your knees object.

Hie Jinja (日枝神社) Akasaka's guardian shrine

Once the guardian shrine of Edo Castle, Hie Jinja now sits among Akasaka's office towers. Its messenger animal is the monkey, and statues of a monkey couple, one cradling a baby, stand in front of the hall; couples and families love them. The side staircase lined with red torii is the photogenic way in, while escalators on the main approach make this the easiest hilltop shrine on this page.

Tokyo Daijingu (東京大神宮) Relationships

Tokyo Daijingu was founded in 1880 so that people in Tokyo could worship the gods of Ise Grand Shrine, and it's still called "Ise in Tokyo". In 1901 it held the first Shinto wedding ceremony, modeled on the imperial wedding of the year before, and the modern shrine wedding grew from there. That history made it Tokyo's go-to shrine for enmusubi, good relationships of every kind. It's a few minutes' walk from Iidabashi Station, and on weekends expect a line of young visitors for its love amulets and fortunes.

Kanda Myojin (神田明神) Business luck

Kanda Myojin traces its founding to 730 and has watched over the old merchant districts of Kanda, Nihonbashi and Akihabara for centuries; plenty of Tokyo companies still start the working year with a visit. Among its gods is Taira no Masakado, a rebel warrior of the 900s whom Tokyo has honored, and feared, ever since. Being next door to Akihabara, it also sells amulets to protect your computer and electronics. Its Kanda Matsuri, held in odd-numbered years, is one of Edo's great festivals.

Meiji Jingu and Kiyomasa's Well (明治神宮・清正井) Give it its own morning

Meiji Jingu, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, stands in a forest planted for it about a century ago with trees donated from all over Japan. The long gravel approach is the whole point: by the time you reach the hall, the noise of Harajuku has gone. Look for the Meoto Kusu, two camphor trees joined by a sacred rope, said to bless marriages.

Kiyomasa's Well (清正井), said to have been dug by the warlord Kato Kiyomasa, is Tokyo's most famous power spot. It's a clear spring that flows at about 60 liters a minute and stays at around 15°C all year. The well is inside the Inner Garden (御苑), which asks for a 500 yen contribution and keeps shorter hours than the shrine, typically 9:00 to 16:00 or 16:30 depending on the season. In June the garden's irises are in bloom.

Todoroki Valley and Todoroki Fudoson (等々力渓谷・等々力不動尊) Reopened March 2026

A short walk from Todoroki Station on the Tokyu Oimachi Line, a wooded path drops below street level into a ravine of stream, small waterfalls and shrines. It's hard to believe you're still in Tokyo. At the top stands Todoroki Fudoson, a Shingon temple whose origins are said to go back more than a thousand years, with a pond shrine to Benten below. The valley path reopened in March 2026 after about three years of closure for safety work.

It's a long trip across the city from Haneda, and sections can close again after heavy rain. Check the Setagaya City park notice on the day, and make it the only plan for the morning.