3 Shrine and Temples to Go and Worship Around Tsukiji Fish Market
Tourists go to Tsukiji fish market for it’s fresh seafood that comes from all over Japan. And the market is crowded with many souvenir shops and casual and high-quality restaurants. But, it’s not enough to just go to Tsukiji and have delicious seafood. This area is getting famous for it’s traditional shrines and temples that have a long history with local people. How about going and worship at the sacred site?
１．“Tsusukiji Hongan-ji”: an Overwhelmingly Solemn Ancient Indian Style Temple**
Tsukiji Hongan-ji has a long history since 1617. It had been built at Asakusa at first, and them moved to Tsukiji. It belongs to the Jodo Shinshu Hongan-ji school as same as Nishi Honganji in Kyoto. At first, you would be surprised that this temple is not built of wood as we usually image a Japanese temple. It is built of stone and looks like some temple in India or Central Asia. That is because this temple had once been destroyed by fire in 1934, and them people rebuilt it in ancient Indian style. Inside the big main hall, there is a pipe organ that plays classical music during lunchtime. You would be impressed that this temple is very different from usual Japanese traditional temple.
２．“Namiyoke Shrine”: an Sacred Site to Go to Ward off Bad Luck
Tsukiji used to be under the sea. Current Tsukiji was made by reclaiming land from sea and at the same time “Namiyoke Shrine” was also made. During construction, labors were flocculently caught in violent waves. But once god of harvest appeared, she put down them. So people started believing in the god and made the shrine to worship. Even nowadays, people come from all over Japan to ward off bad luck or play for the business being brisk. Japanese people now call this sacred site as a “power spot”. Also a lion mask concerning the site is famous and “Tsukiji Shishi Festival” is known as the biggest festival in Tsukiji.
３．“Sui-jinja”: a Guardian Deity that Local Tsukiji People have Loved
There is a “Sui-jinja” inside the premise of active Tsukiji fish market. The faith of “Suijinja” began at Nihonbashi Uogashi even before Edo period start. After being moved to Tsukiji after the devastating earthquake, the god has guarded the land and people of Tsukiji. Even since the shrine was in Nihonbashi, people come and play for a large haul and safety on the sea and also now local Tsukiji people come to play at the shrine. Although it’s active and noisy inside the market, this site is calm and restless. This is a temple with a long and distinguished history that sets your mind at ease.
About Tsukiji
Access
・Address Tsukiji, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo-To
・Access（metro・bus）
15 minuets walk from
Toei Oedo Line “Tsukiji Ichiba” Station
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line “Tsukiji” Station
Toei Asakusa Line “Higashi Ginza” Stationa
15 minuets walk from
JR “Shimbashi” station, (or take “To Bus” bounded for “Chuo Ichiba”)
From Haneda or Narita Airport, Tokyo Station
From Haneda Airport
Take Keikyu Kuukou Line Airport Kaitoku (for Narita Airport), and transfer at “Sengakuji” Station to Toei Asakusa Line Airport Kaitoku (for Narita Airport), and transfer at “Daimon” Station to Toei Ooedo Line (for Ryogoku / Kasuga) and get off the train at “Tsukiji Ichiba” Station. It takes about 40 minutes.
From Narita Airport
Take the Sky liner 38 (for Keisei Ueno), and transfer at “Nippori” Station to Yamanote Line (for Ueno), and transfer at “Hamamatsu-cho” Station to Toei Ooedo Line (for Ryogoku / Kasuga), and get off the train at “Tsukiji Ichiba” Station. It takes about 75 minutes.
From Tokyo Station
At “Tokyo” Station, take Keihin Tohoku Line (for Ofuna), and transfer at “Hamamatsu-cho” Station to Toei Ooedo Line (for Ryogoku / Kasuga), and get off the train at “Tsukiji Ichiba” Station. It takes about 20 minutes.
40 minutes from Haneda Airport / 75 minutes from Narita Airport / 20 minutes from Tokyo Station
MAP
If you get interested in Tsukiji, please check our tour “Tsukiji Market walkaround tour with the “King of Tsukiji””!