A woman with a red umbrella stood behind the Shinmon gate of Asagaya Shinmei-gu Shrine

Just off the busy Nakasugi Street, a large torii gate stands. The name of the Shinto shrine is inscribed on a stone monument standing next to the simply designed torii gate. This shrine is called Shinmei-gu Shrine in Asagaya.

According to a legend, Asagaya Shinmei-gu Shrine was founded around 1200, but it is doubtful if it really has a history of 800 years. It seems to have a history of at least 200 years, as it is mentioned in regional geography called Edo Meisho Zue published in the late Edo period (around 1800), but it is difficult to sense a long history from the shrine building and gate, which were extensively renovated in 2009.

It was my personal impression that it was difficult, and there were many people in the precincts of the shrine who did not think so or were indifferent to the fact that the shrine had a history. I had thought the shrine was not that famous, but there was a line of people waiting for their turn to pray in front of the hall of worship. I found out that the shrine distributes a bracelet-shaped amulet called "kan-musubi," which is available only at the shrine and is very popular. It seems that shrines in the 21st century are busy making their shrines tourist attractions and attracting many visitors by decorating them with Instagram-worthy wind chimes and distributing amulets that can only be obtained there.

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