Setagaya Hachimangu Shrine — Attraction in Tokyo

We planned to visit the famous cat shrine today, but it was closed for a private ceremony. Probably a feline wedding or a memorial for a goldfish they once knocked off an altar. So, we pivoted here – and what a solid backup date this place turned out to be.

Walked through a giant red torii gate feeling like a discount samurai, then found a massive straw ring under the stone torii. Apparently, you’re supposed to walk through it in a specific figure-8 pattern to cleanse bad vibes. I just walked through it hoping to cleanse my credit card statement from last night’s izakaya bill.

The grounds are peaceful, with koi ponds full of chonky fish living their best life and a tiny waterfall gurgling away like it’s narrating an NHK nature documentary. There’s even a full sumo ring tucked away under the trees, where you can stand in the middle and pretend you’re Hakuho, if only for the thirty seconds before your knees start complaining.

Overall: ✔️ Zero crowds ✔️ Beautiful vermilion shrine architecture ✔️ Free spiritual cleansing (unconfirmed efficacy) ✔️ Koi giving you side-eye of judgment

Highly recommend if you’re in Setagaya and want to experience serenity with a side of sumo history. Bonus: it makes getting rejected by the cat shrine sting a...

Down the road from Gōtokuji temple, this shine hosts a number of beautiful pieces of design and craftsmanship. In the front, there's a small waterfall that goes into a pond. Often, you can see turtles sunbathing on the rocks or koi fish swimming around. A little further up is a sumo wrestling ring that hosts matches during the autumn festival. At the top of the main staircase in the main Setagaya-Hachiman shrine. Behind the main shrine over a small stone path is the Setagaya-Shokonsha shrine, which is a dedication to those who passed away in the Japan-Russia war and the Pacific War The whole area is completely free to enter and is a great place to visit when you...

We visited many shrines in Tokyo, but this neighborhood spot -- which I'd have to guess sees far fewer tourists than the nearby Gotokuji Temple -- was our favorite! We visited three times during our stay in the neighborhood and on our last day in the city, this was the one place we had to come back to for one last visit. Kids and adults alike will love watching the koi and turtles in the smaller shrine/pond/waterfall area near the entrance. The larger complex has a beautiful temple and nice grounds to walk around in. Helpful signs are there to remind you of the steps for purifying and praying at the shrine. If you're anywhere near Setagaya City, don't miss...