Nezu Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Tokyo. According to the oldest historical document, Nihon Shoki, its establishment dates back 1,900 years. Initially, it was built at a different site, Sendagi, about one kilometer east. The shrine was moved to the current site, where a Samurai General’s family, the Tokugwas, had their mansion when a baby, who later became the 6th shogun, was born to pray for his well-being and healthy growth.
The shrine experienced an intensive air raid during World War Two, but fortunately, only a little was damaged, and almost all shrine structures, facilities, and housing have survived and still show us its beauty and sublimity.
The shrine maintains a complete set of Gongen-tsukuri, a traditional shrine structure consisting of Honden (main hall), Heiden (reception tributes to the deity from guests), Haiden (worship hall), Sukibei (grating fence), Kara-Mon (Chinese-style gate), Nishi-Mon (west gate), and Ro-Mon (two-story gate). I like Ro-Mon, the most powerful and impressive structure in the shrine, and I could not stop bowing to respect when I stood right in front of the gate and looked up at the heavy and well-decorated roof.
Haiden (the worship hall) also has beautiful decorations and a brilliant contrast of red and golden colors in its columns and beams under the large blue bronze roof, which suggests the shrine’s long history, typical sense of traditional designs, and durability that has survived the war and a great earthquake.
It was June 30, the day of Oharai, which means cleansing the sins we had committed during the past half of the year. It is held twice a year, at the end of June and December. The shrine put a big ring made of thatch in front of Kara-Mon. I walked through it in the ritual way, which required me to go around the right side of the ring and the other side twice and then eventually walk through the center to enter the main house of the shrine. Honestly, it’s my first experience in my life! It’s somehow interesting and amazing!
It is a tiny shrine compared with the Meiji Jingu shrine, one of Tokyo’s popular tourist destinations, but I believe it’s still worth visiting.
Location on the Google Map
https://maps.app.goo.gl/P7p4gPNHQKJsseHx7
Access: about a 5-minute walk from Nezu on the Chiyoda Line or Todaimae on theNanboku Line.
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