⛩️ Akagi Shrine 赤城神社

Akagi Shrine, located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, was established in 1300 and is a branch of the "Akagi Shrine" at the foot of Mount Akagi in Gunma Prefecture. The shrine primarily enshrines the deity "Iwatatsumi no Mikoto," who is responsible for driving away evil spirits, and "Akagi Hime no Mikoto," who can fulfill women's wishes. As a result, many women visit the shrine to pray for good relationships, safe childbirth, and family happiness. Notably, the shrine features a modern design with large glass windows on all sides, and it was redesigned by the renowned architect Kengo Kuma in 2010. Today, this modern and stylish shrine is also recognized as a piece of architectural art. Within the shrine grounds, there is a small shrine called "Keisetsu Shrine," dedicated to the deities of knowledge and art. Many individuals from the entertainment industry, including filmmakers and television actors, have come here to pray for the success of their works. Additionally, there are smaller shrines such as Hachime Shrine, Shusse Inari Shrine, and Toshogu Shrine within the grounds, allowing for combined worship. Next to the shrine office, there is also an "Akagi Café," where visitors can relax or dine after their visit.

The shrine is dedicated to the goddess "Akagi Hime no Mikoto," who can fulfill women's wishes. With a modern design style, the shrine is also quite popular as an architectural art attraction. The "Akagi Café" on the premises offers a rich menu, featuring tea and delicacies provided by an Italian cuisine chef. There are cute omamori (amulets) inspired by manga such as "GeGeGe no Kitaro" and "Eyeball Old Man." The guardian beasts, the komainu, in front of the worship hall bear a striking resemblance to the Egyptian sphinx.