Azabu Hikawa Shrine Travel Guide

Azabu Hikawa Shrine, located in the Motoazabu district of Minato City, Tokyo, is a peaceful Shinto shrine with a rich history and a surprising connection to modern pop culture. Founded possibly as early as 942, the shrine has served as a guardian presence for the Azabu area for centuries. Originally located about 300 meters north of its current location, the shrine was moved to its present site between 1658 and 1661. Azabu Hikawa Shrine is one of the Seven Edo Hikawa Jinja. During the Edo period, the shrine grounds were a popular spot for falconry outings by the Tokugawa Shoguns. The second Shogun, Hidetada, even prayed here for his wife's safe childbirth.The shrine's main hall was rebuilt in 1948 after being damaged by firebombing during World War II. Today, the vermilion-colored main building makes a striking impression. Azabu Hikawa Shrine is dedicated to the deity of safe travels and relationships. Visitors come to pray for various blessings, including success in competition, business prosperity, academic improvement, and matchmaking.In recent years, Azabu Hikawa Shrine has gained international attention as the inspiration for the Hikawa Shrine in the popular anime and manga series 'Sailor Moon'. Fans of the series will recognize elements of the shrine in the anime, including the crescent moon on the ema (votive tablets). The shrine even offers omikuji (paper fortune slips) in English to cater to its international fanbase. The Grand Azabu Hikawa Mikoshi, a large palanquin, was restored in 2021 through crowdfunding and is displayed during the annual Azabu Hikawa Festival in September.