Sure, Kanda Myōjin is a gorgeous red and gold shrine, but the best part is that this is the place where comic book artists, video game character designers and anime auteurs pray for success! Artists come from all over Japan to ask the kami-sama to smile upon their careers, and most of them leave a sample of their work to impress the gods.
You can all different styles, each one better than the last.
And the shrine itself does not disappoint! Let’s step through the grand gate…
then make our way across the plaza to pay our respects. The modern building on the left (which sadly replaced the charming one in these photos) is where they sell amulets and prayer plaques, including a special series to protect your electronics from rain, viruses and the black screen of death
Kanda Myōjin is one of Tokyo’s major shrines, so they celebrate every holiday and festival in grand style.
On weekends, the chances of seeing a wedding or other event are excellent! This is a good place to spot women wearing kimono, especially on holidays like Coming-of-Age Day and Shichi-Go-San…
and on special occasions, the shrine’s sacred miniature horse is available for receiving the love of all comers.
But my favorite time to visit Kanda Myōjin is at twilight, when the lanterns are lit…
…and the sky turns that magical shade of blue…
…and the buildings all come alive
Worth a little visit, don’t you think?
Just for fun, here are the eleven strangest shrines in Tokyo, with all the inside scoop on the resident gods’ superpowers
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And here are the other places I take my friends when they come to town
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Jonelle Patrick writes about Japan 