墨田区

Takagi Shrine is a small Shinto shrine in the Oshiage/Hikifune area of Sumida ward, Tokyo, a short walk from the Tokyo Skytree. Built in 1468, the shrine was originally known as Dairokutensha and was managed by a nearby Buddhist temple. It was dedicated to Dairoku-Tenma-O, the "Devil King of the Sixth Heaven", until the separation of Buddhism and Shinto in 1868. Today it honours Takami-Musubi, an androgynous deity of creation and birth, and the shrine is associated with the concept of en-musubi, or auspicious relationships. Visitors are charmed by its unusual purple-coloured buildings and the playful onigiri (rice ball) theme: tiny rice-ball figurines and stones are hidden all over the grounds, from the guardian lions to ema plaques. The shrine invites visitors to seek good fortune by purchasing a goshuin stamp and taking home a small "musubi stone" as a reminder of connections and good luck. Takagi Shrine remains a quirky and peaceful spot amidst the urban bustle, celebrating both ancient mythology and modern pop culture.