Visiting the gods

The current environment in Tokyo has us staying at home a lot these days. Covid is wreaking havoc on the prefecture, as well as many other parts of Japan. When my family gets stir crazy, we want to head out into the less populated areas to re-energize ourselves.

Feeling a need to get out of our neighborhood, my husband and I discussed several options for activities. After a bit of back and forth, we decided to explore one of the 28 defined routes to visit the seven lucky gods, known as Shichifukujin Meguri.

We chose a route that would take us to 9 shrines and temples in the Asakusa neighborhood, connecting us to the seven lucky gods with 2 gods that are visited twice along the way. The walk is just short of 7 kilometers (or 4.3 miles), which is a decent walk for a young kid.

Typically the Asakusa route would be pretty crowded, as it is a popular tourist area. However, the traffic in the area is extremely low, as foreigners are not being allowed to enter Japan and most residents are sticking close to home. So, we kind of felt like now would be the best time for us to go.

We decided to commemorate our journey by purchasing a (plastic) bamboo branch decorated with ema (little wooden placards) from each temple or shrine, as well as a square of cardstock used for special calligraphy at each stop along the way. The collection of calligraphy is quite popular these days, as it makes a nice souvenir. Each item cost ¥3,000 ($27 USD), paid in small increments at each temple or shrine.

There isn't a specific route, but we started at one shrine and picked up a map of the loop. Then we just kept walking from one to the next.

The map!

Finding our way.

Ishihama Jinja - Juroujin (寿老人): the God of long life/longevity and happiness.

Hashiba Fudouson - Hotei (布袋): the God of happiness, contentment, good fortune, bringing good match, bringing healthy children.

Imado Jinja - Fukurokuju (福禄寿): the God of wisdom, wealth, luck, and longevity.

Matsuchiyama Shouden - Bishamonten (毘沙門天): the God of war and victory.

Asakusa Jinja - Ebisu (恵比寿): the God of success in business.

Sensouji - Daikoku (大黒): the God of commerce, agriculture, and prosperity.

Yasaki Inari Jinja - Fukurokuju (福禄寿): the God of wisdom, wealth, luck, and longevity.

Otori Jinja - Juroujin (寿老人): the God of long life/longevity and happiness.

Yoshiwara Jinja - Benzaiten (弁財天): the Goddess of financial fortune, good results in learning, music, and art.

It was a fun little journey that we could accomplish together. Maybe someday we will take another journey, visiting different locations, on another day.