Koami Shrine — Attraction in Tokyo

This shrine is well-known for bringing wealth and prosperity, but you can also pray for other blessings like health or success in studies. The line can get pretty long, but it moves quickly, so you won’t be waiting too long.

Here’s how the process works these days: When you arrive at the entrance under the archway, bow twice. Head to the hand-washing station and let water from the bamboo pipe run over the your left and right hands. Once you’re at the main shrine, toss a coin into the offering box, bow twice, clap your hands twice, and make your wish. After that, bow twice again. On the left-hand side, there’s a basin and small baskets where you can place coins or banknotes and rinse them with water. This is believed to bring fortune and wealth into your life. Make sure to keep the cleansed money—it’s good luck, so...

Koami Shrine, also known as the “Money Washing Shrine,” truly lives up to its name—you literally wash your money with water here, making for a unique and memorable experience. Although the shrine is quite small, it’s incredibly popular, often drawing long queues of visitors. Nestled in a quiet residential area, the atmosphere is tranquil and serene. Visiting during the day allows you to fully enjoy the money-washing ritual with flowing water, which is said to bring financial luck. However, if you visit in the evening, while the shrine is still accessible, the absence of running water means you’ll miss out on this signature activity. Despite its modest size, the shrine’s unique charm and fascinating ritual make it well...

最初、第二次世界大戦中の兵士たちが出征前に小網神社を参拝し、無事帰還を祈願していたと聞いたとき、中国人としてその侵略の歴史に強い嫌悪感を抱きました。しかし、父が癌を患ったとき、私は神社に厄除けを願いました。私は神社の水で500円玉を洗い、それを父に渡したところ、父は奇跡的に立ち上がりました。ですが、その後私の誤った薬の選択のせいで、父は薬の副作用で亡くなってしまいました。父はその硬貨を私に残しました。この神社を見るたびに、私は複雑な気持ちになります。

最初听说二战士兵出征前会来小网神社参拜，保佑能平安归家。作为中国人，我很讨厌这段侵略历史。但是我的父亲当时患了癌症，我期待神社帮去除厄运。我用神社水洗了500日元， 并把硬币交给了父亲，他居然神奇地站起来了。但是后来因为我的错误选药决策，父亲因药物不和去世了。他把那枚硬币留给了我。每次看到这个神社，我心里都有复杂的情绪。

When I first heard that soldiers during World War II would visit Koman Shrine before deployment to pray for a safe return, I felt repulsed by that history of aggression as a Chinese person. But when my father was diagnosed with cancer, I hoped the shrine would help dispel misfortune. I washed a 500 yen coin with the shrine’s water and gave it to my father, and miraculously he stood up. However, later due to my wrong decision about his medication, my father passed away from adverse drug reactions. He left that coin to me. Every time I see this shrine, I have complicated feelings.

처음에 제2차 세계대전 당시 병사들이 출정 전에 고미 신사를 참배하며 무사 귀환을 기원했다는 이야기를 들었을 때, 중국인으로서 그 침략의 역사에 매우 불쾌한 감정을 느꼈습니다. 하지만 제 아버지가 암에 걸렸을 때 저는 신사가 액운을 막아주기를 기대했습니다. 저는 신사의 물로 500엔 동전을 씻어 아버지께 드렸고, 아버지는 기적적으로 일어섰습니다. 그러나 그 후 제 잘못된 약 선택 때문에 아버지는 약 부작용으로 돌아가셨습니다. 아버지는 그 동전을 저에게 남겼습니다. 이 신사를 볼 때마다 제 마음은 복잡합니다.

Lần đầu tiên tôi nghe nói rằng các binh lính trong Thế chiến thứ hai đã đến đền Komain trước khi ra trận để cầu nguyện cho sự trở về an toàn, với tư cách là một người Trung Quốc, tôi rất ghét lịch sử xâm lược đó. Nhưng khi cha tôi mắc bệnh ung thư, tôi đã hy vọng ngôi đền sẽ giúp xua đuổi điều xui xẻo. Tôi đã rửa đồng xu 500 yên bằng nước của đền và đưa cho cha, và thật kỳ diệu, ông đã đứng dậy. Tuy nhiên, sau đó do quyết định sai lầm của tôi về thuốc, cha tôi đã qua đời vì tác dụng phụ của thuốc. Ông đã để lại đồng xu đó cho tôi. Mỗi lần nhìn thấy đền này, tôi lại cảm thấy rất nhiều cảm...