Asakusa Otori-jinja

A few hundred meters north to Senso-ji temple, a residential neighborhood is home to Asakusa Otori-jinja, a small old shrine. Very few tourists know about this tiny Shinto enclosure that Tokyoites love for its winter celebrations.

Birthplace of November’s Tori no Ichi markets

The shrine is indeed reputed as the cradle for celebrations of the day of rooster called Tori no Ichi (酉の市), that have been held on November’s rooster days (according to the Chinese zodiac) since the mid-18th century in Tokyo. Legendary hero Yamato Takeru no Mikoto is worshiped at Asakusa Otori-jinja that used to be part of the Yoshiwara red light district of Shitamachi the lower plebeian merchant city during the feudal Edo period (1603 – 1868). It is also nicknamed Otori-sama.

During the 2 to 3 Rooster days falling in November every year, Asakusa Otori-jinja and the neighboring Chokoku-ji temple open day and night to a never ending flow of visitors coming to pray for good fortune. Shops selling kumade lucky rakes and yatai food stalls take place along the paths of the Shinto grounds and outside to the edges of the road. This matsuri festival is quite lively and enthusiasm grows late into the night both spiritually and commercially.

Good fortune for the year to come

One month later, for the New Year’s Day, the Shinto grounds is crowded again for hatsumode, the 1rst visit of the year to a temple or a shrine. A waiting line forms from the entrance to the main pavilion where people ring the bell and bow in front of the smiling chubby face of the deity Okame (Uzume) while wishing for a happy family and financial success.

Worshipers also walk through a chinowa grass ring, set up on December 30 for the New Year’s purification ritual called Oharae (大祓). Omikuji fortune papers and ema votive plates decorated with the new year’s Chinese zodiac sign are inscribed with prayers and hanged on display.

The shrine is also a landmark for people doing the Tokyo Shitamachi Hachifukujin mairi (東京下町八福神参り), whose name could be translated as "pilgrimage of the 8 lucky gods of Tokyo’s Shitamachi." Ideally, this tour of Taito ward’s 8 shrines is to be performed in January and until February 3 for Setsubun, as the blessing of the Shinto gods is said to ensure a good start of the year. The customs 🛂 reminds of the Shichifukujin pilgrimage centered on the 7 lucky gods in Japan, except the gods worshiped are different. Imado-jinja shrine is notably part of the "8 lucky gods of Tokyo’s Shitamachi."