The tradition of visiting the Seven Gods of Good Fortune is said to have begun during the Muromachi period. The Muromachi period (1336 or 1338 AD) was an era preceding even the Edo period, lasting nearly 240 years and encompassing the Warring States period. This tradition has been passed down among the Japanese people for a long time. The Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage differs from others in that it consists entirely of shrines, making it the quickest to complete in Japan. The Ningyocho neighborhood where the Seven Lucky Gods are located is a bustling district retaining the traditional atmosphere of Edo’s downtown, a town where the charm of the old downtown still lingers today.
For those staying in the Ningyocho area, we recommend the Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage. It takes about an hour to complete, so why not take a morning stroll before checking out of your hotel? You can start at any shrine, but it might be best to begin at Koami Shrine, as it tends to get crowded if you don’t go early. Timing your breakfast after visiting the shrines is perfect for starting your day feeling refreshed.
Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage Map
Things to Know Before Visiting a Shrine
・Prepare small change.
When visiting a shrine, you place offerings in the donation box. It’s common to bring 5-yen coins specifically. In Japan, the word for 5 yen (go-en) sounds like the kanji for “御縁” (go-en), symbolizing the wish to gain good fortune through your visit. Japan has a deeply cherished and heartwarming concept called “御縁”. While English words like “connection,” “destiny,” “bond,” or “chance encounter” convey similar meanings, go-en encompasses all of these as a uniquely Japanese cultural concept: “Encounters with people and events are not coincidental but meaningful.”
・Learn how to worship.
Shrine hanging above. There are rules when visiting a shrine. These include bowing once toward the shrine grounds before passing through the torii gate and purifying yourself at the temizu before worship. We’ve summarized the rules here for your reference. Etiquette for Visiting Shrines and Temples
Introducing My Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage
For reference, here’s what it was like when I did the Seven Gods pilgrimage at 8 AM. The area around Ningyocho Station has an office district, so many people are heading to work. Since many also grab breakfast at cafes, shops serving breakfast tend to be quite crowded at this hour.
First, I visited Koami Shrine. Koami Shrine is popular for bringing good fortune. Since many people visit when the goshuin stamp office opens, it can take time to pray. I think visiting it first allows for a smoother worship experience.
Koami Shrine（Fukurokuju – A deity symbolizing happiness, high status, and long life, known for his distinctive elongated head.）16-23 Nihonbashikoamichō, Chuo City, Tokyo
Kōami Shrine, founded in 1466 (Bunshō 1), is revered as a deity of good fortune and protection against misfortune. This reputation stems from its buildings surviving the Tokyo air raids during World War II and the fact that all soldiers who carried the shrine’s amulets when deployed returned safely.
There were still few people, so we were able to visit the shrine smoothly. Visiting first thing in the morning leaves you feeling refreshed.
Chanoki Shrine (Hotei – The cheerful god of abundance and contentment, carrying a large bag filled with blessings.)1-12-10 Nihonbashiningyochō, Chuo City, Tokyo
Tea Tree Shrine, affectionately known as “Tea Tree-sama” by the townspeople, enshrines the deity Ukanomitama-no-Ōkami, a Fushimi-lineage Inari deity. Long ago, this land was the secondary residence of the Hotta family, the senior councilors and lords of Shimōsa Sakura Castle during the Tokugawa period, spanning approximately 3,000 tsubo. This shrine was enshrined as its guardian deity. It is said that around the shrine, tea trees were planted in a circular pattern, neatly trimmed, atop an earthen embankment covered in grass. The sight of the green grass and tea trees was truly magnificent. Not only within the residence itself, but also in the surrounding town, fires did not occur for many years. Consequently, it came to be revered as a fire-preventing deity, though it is unclear when or by whom this began. The Hotta family would open the gates only once a year, on the day of the Hatsuuma Festival, allowing free public worship. It is said the shrine gained considerable renown in the town under the affectionate nickname “Ochanoki-sama” (Tea Tree Deity).
Hōshō Benzaiten（Benzaiten – The goddess of art, music, knowledge, and financial blessings.） 2-4-1 Nihonbashikakigarachō, Chuo City, Tokyo
When Lord Arima Yorinori, the ninth lord of Kurume Domain, competed in the art of Hosho-ryu Noh with Lord Maeda Narinaga, the eleventh lord of Kaga Domain, he prayed to Benzaiten and achieved a splendid victory. Since then, revered as Hosho Benzaiten, it has been renowned for its blessings in the arts, academics, and financial fortune,
and continues to be deeply revered to this day.
Hōshō Benzaiten is located within the grounds of Suitengu Shrine, which has been revered since the Edo period as a deity for safe childbirth and granting children. During the day, you can see families bustling about with newborn babies, visiting to give thanks. Children dressed in hakama and kimono for the Shichi-Go-San celebration of Japanese culture also come to worship, and you can often see the children’s innocent faces.
Matsushima Shrine（Daikokuten – The god of wealth and commerce, often depicted with a large sack and a magical mallet.）2-15-2 Nihonbashiningyochō, Chuo City, Tokyo
The shrine is believed to have been founded before 1321 during the Kamakura period. Legend has it that long ago, when this area was an inlet, there was a small island. An ancestor of the Shibata family moved here from Shimōsa Province, enshrined various deities within the residence, and every night, boatmen used the lanterns displayed here as a beacon to ensure safe passage. The enshrined deities include Daikokuten and other highly revered gods, totaling fourteen—a number greater than that of most other shrines.
At every shrine, you see people paying their respects before work, and you can truly feel how visiting shrines has become a part of daily life for Japanese people. I too greet my local guardian deity every morning to start my day.
Suehiro Shrine（Bishamonten – A guardian deity associated with victory, protection, and good fortune.） 2-25-20 Nihonbashiningyochō, Chuo City, Tokyo
Suehiro Shrine was established as an Inari shrine before 1596. It was revered as the guardian deity of Yoshiwara, which existed in this area at the time. The shrine was named after a Suehiro fan discovered during repairs to the shrine buildings in 1675. While Bishamonten is famously known for bestowing victory and good fortune, the shrine has also long been a place of worship for warding off epidemics. Consequently, many people pray here seeking various blessings: not only for recovery from illness and peace of mind, but also for protection from misfortune and improved financial fortune.
Kasama Inari Shrine（Jurōjin – The god of longevity, often shown with a staff and a scroll.） 2-11-6 Hamachō, Chuo City, Tokyo
Kasama Inari Shrine, one of Japan’s Three Great Inari Shrines, has been deeply revered by generations of the Makino family, feudal lords of Kasama. The shrine’s origins trace back to the enshrinement of a sacred spirit branch at the family’s Edo residence. Since then, it has been widely revered not only by the Makino family but also by merchants and citizens as the guardian deity of Nihonbashi Fish Market, and as the protector of the five grains, fisheries, and industrial development. Jurojin is the deity of longevity, a guiding spirit, and a guardian deity who brings good fortune and helps people forge their destinies.
Suginomori Shrine（Ebisu – The god of prosperity and fishermen. The only deity of purely Japanese origin.）
1-10-2 Nihonbashihoridomechō, Chuo City, Toky
The last shrine I visited was Sugimori Shrine. Just as I arrived to pray, a white dove, visible in the photo, was strolling about. Since doves symbolize peace in Japan, I prayed anew for world peace, thinking perhaps the gods were bringing peace.
According to the shrine’s tradition, Sugimori Shrine was founded during the Heian period when Fujiwara no Hidesato prayed for victory in battle to quell the rebellion of Taira no Masakado.
By the mid-Muromachi period, Ota Dokan of Edo Castle had enshrined the deities of the five shrines of Fushimi Inari in Yamashiro Province (Kyoto Prefecture) to pray for rain, making it a deeply revered shrine. Consequently, during the Edo period, it was counted among the three Mori shrines (Karasumori, Yanagimori, and Sugimori) of Edo Castle town, known as Sugimori Inari, attracting the devotion of Edo commoners.
During the Edo period, most buildings were wooden, so temples and shrines were often destroyed in fires like those in Edo Castle town. To raise funds for rebuilding, influential temples and shrines held lottery events called “fortune lotteries” (the basis for modern lottery tickets), and our shrine’s fortune lottery was also popular among the people.
Tomizuka and the Doves
After visiting the Seven Gods of Fortune
I was able to finish visiting the shrines in about an hour. Since it was morning and each shrine was quiet, I could visit them smoothly. Walking a total of about 3 km made for a pleasant stroll.
After walking for about an hour, I started to feel hungry, so I looked around for a place to get breakfast. In Tokyo, almost all establishments offering breakfast are chain restaurants like Yoshinoya or Matsuya, cafes, or soba shops representing Japanese cultural cuisine. Like me, many people eat soba first thing in the morning. It’s a quick meal to fuel the start of work, served immediately and eaten promptly. Most places other than soba shops also offer a morning service, allowing you to have breakfast for around 500 yen.
Yoshinoya’s morning set costs 519 yen. It includes a small bowl of beef bowl, miso soup, and a raw egg. It’s very affordable.
At chain cafes, smoked chicken and tomato toast with coffee starts at ¥480.
Even chain cafes offer their own unique morning services, which is very appealing and gives you plenty of choices.
Japanese cuisine culture prioritizes quality over affordability. Each restaurant consistently operates with the goal of satisfying customers’ appetites by offering delicious, affordable meals from morning service through lunch. We encourage you to try it for yourself.
For breakfast, I chose a soba restaurant. It’s a long-established place serving classic soba noodles. The warmth of the soba broth seeps into my body, chilled by the early autumn cold.
You can eat for about 300 to 500 yen per serving.
The octopus tempura soba I ordered (warm soba topped with chunks of fried octopus tentacles) is recommended at 350 yen in Japan.
The shop was mostly filled with salarymen before work starting in the morning, but I sat down without waiting in line and ordered the Geso-Soba. It was served in just about one to two minutes after ordering. My stay at the shop lasted only about ten minutes before finishing my meal. Seeing the people around me eat quickly and leave, I could feel firsthand how the Edo-period townspeople’s culture of eating quickly during their short pre-work time continues even today.
I was amazed by this morning service. It’s a charcoal-grilled fish set meal. Typically, a set meal includes rice, miso soup, pickles, and other sides alongside the main dish. At this restaurant, they serve set meals featuring fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines) grilled over sumibi. In Japan, surrounded by the sea and abundant in seafood, there’s a culture of eating grilled fish for breakfast. Being able to experience that culture at a reasonable price makes this breakfast very appealing to foreigners as well.
The Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage allows you to experience the old-town charm of Ningyocho while visiting shrines. Since there’s no set starting point, you can begin at a shrine near your lodging. Please pay your respects as a memorable part of your Tokyo trip.
How to get this place
Address:
2-chōme-6 Nihonbashiningyōchō, Chuo City, Tokyo
Access:
From Ueno Station:
Take the Hibiya Line to Nigyocho Station. The ride takes about 5 minutes.
FAQ — Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage
What is the Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage?
The Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage is a short walking route in Tokyo where visitors visit seven shrines dedicated to the Seven Lucky Gods of Japanese folklore. It is known as one of the easiest and shortest pilgrimage courses in Japan.
How long does the pilgrimage take?
Most visitors complete the route in about 60 to 90 minutes on foot. The shrines are located close to each other, making it ideal even for travelers with limited time.
Where should I start the pilgrimage?
You can start at any shrine along the route. There is no official starting point, so visitors usually begin at the shrine closest to their hotel or train station.
Is the Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage free?
Yes, the pilgrimage itself is free. However, it is customary to offer a small coin donation when praying at each shrine.
What should I bring for the pilgrimage?
Bring comfortable walking shoes, small coins for offerings, and a goshuin book if you want to collect shrine stamps as a souvenir.
When is the best time to visit?
Morning is the best time to visit because the shrines are quieter and the atmosphere feels more peaceful and traditional.
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