The most beautiful shrines and pilgrimage sites to visit Tokyo

Within the temple Sensō-ji enclosure stands one of the city's best-known shrines, Asakusa jinja, also known as Sanja-sama. Located east of the main building, it is marked by the stone torii. It was built in 1649 in honour of the 3 founders of Sensō-ji, and unlike the latter, it resisted the air raids of World War II. The sanctuary is at the heart of the Sanja-matsuri festivities in mid-May, when the o-mikoshi are carried in procession through the neighbourhood. With a bit of luck, you will also come across married couples there.

This Shinto shrine celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2019. Linked to the national construction of the 19th century, it is dedicated to the spirits of the Japanese who died for their homeland, from the Boshin War to the present day. It is currently a controversial place as it houses the remains of war criminals (notably that of General Tōjō who orchestrated many massacres, including the infamous Nanking massacre in 1937). Each of the Japanese Prime Minister's visits to this holy place immediately triggers a wave of protest from Beijing and Seoul.

This shrine is dedicated to General Nogi, hero of the Russo-Japanese war. He was raised in 1923 on the site of the house where the general and his wife made seppuku (harakiri) in 1912, out of attachment to the recently deceased Meiji Emperor and their ethic of fidelity. The house is sometimes open to the public, but the sanctuary is open to visitors all year round. It is a pretty green oasis, where you can also see an alley of red torii. A flea market is held there on the 4th Sunday of each month, where you can find both clothes and dishes.

Built in 1603 to protect the city from fires and disasters, this sanctuary perched on a hill was rebuilt in 1958. A double stone staircase (Otoko zaka, the men's slope, and Onna zaka, the women's slope) provides access to the sanctuary. In the past, poets used to climb it to admire the snow at the time of the full moon. Legend has it that a young samurai climbed to the top on horseback to pick plum blossoms and offer them to the shogun. The steep stairs then became a symbol of success in life.

This Shinto shrine was founded in 730, in Otemachi, in the Gongen style of the Momoyama period. In 1616, it was moved to the present site by Ieyasu Tokugawa and declared guardian of Edo City. The first sanctuary having been burned down, this one is a fairly faithful concrete replica that resists time and earthquakes. In recent years, it has adopted the codes of pop culture from the neighbouring Akihabara district, particularly during festivals in mid-May and August. It is consecrated to 3 of the 7 gods of fortune, and is much appreciated by the Tokyo inhabitants.