Kagurazaka was once the playground of Tokyo’s political elite and the role of Akagi Shrine was centered around providing support for this community. However, as times changed and Kagurazaka began to see a second life as a more cosmopolitan area, the shrine’s austere image seemed out of place. As a result, it underwent a complete renovation in 2010 under the guidance of the architect Kuma Kengo, resulting in a very modern take on a traditional Shinto shrine. A restaurant and gallery space called Akagi Cafe also opened next door, and once a month a food market is held in the shrine’s grounds.

The walk up to the shrine
Information
Location
Akagi Shrine, 1-10 Akagi Motomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-0817
« Google Maps »
Details
You May Also Like

Hasedera Temple

Buddhist temple with an eleven-headed statue of Kannon single trunk of a camphor tree.

Sensoji Temple

The centerpiece of the Asakusa area with origins dating back to 628 CE when two brothers found a statue resembling the Buddhist deity of mercy at the bottom of the Sumida River. The statue is said to be enshrined in the main temple building.

Daikakuji

website builder Daikakuji (大覚寺) is a temple complex in the west of Kyoto. It dates back to the…

Yasukuni Shrine

website builder The history of Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社) as a site of enshrinement for the war dead extends…