This ancient shrine was supposedly founded in 730. It is situated on a small hill near Akihabara since 1616. Before this year it was first located in a small fishing village of Shibasaki from where it was moved to Kanda in 1603 and finally in 1616 moved to this present day location. However, what we can see today is of much newer date as this area was since then destroyed by multiple fires and earthquakes.
It became the guardian of all Edo . Onamuchinomikoto, Sukunahikonanomikoto and Tairanomasakado are enshined here together. The shrines on the temple grounds are vermillion-lacquered.
This shrine is believed to bring luck in business, family, finding a future spouse, protection from bad luck. This all comes in handy and I definitely decide to worship here today. It is Sunday and there are many people here waiting to do so, too. Thus I have to queue. I have to proceed to the front of the shrine, throw some coins into the box and straighten my posture. Then keeping my back flat I have to bend forward at a 90 degrees angle from the waist – twice.
Then I join my hands at the level of my chest and slightly slide my right hand downwards. Opening my hands to shoulder width I have to clap twice and then join my hands again, now with my fingertips joined together. Then I have to make the final bow in worship. Well, I know what I have to do, but I mix some things up and I am not doing it as perfectly as Japanese people do. Could this be the reason why not everything functions perfectly with me?
