The Year of Dragon – Visit shrine having the dragon power in Tokyo

 

At the beginning of the year, Japan was hit by the Noto Peninsula earthquake and airplane crash at airport.  I really hope that those people affected by the disaster can return to a peaceful life as soon as possible.

 

2024 is the Year of the Dragon.

The Year of Dragon (Tatsu Doshi) is one of the traditional Chinese zodiac signs, which comes in a twelve-year cycle.  The dragon is an extremely important presence in Chinese culture symbolizing strength, greatness, and prosperity.

 

I visited Mabashiinari Shrine (馬橋稲荷神社) with the legend that the shrine was built at the end of the Kamakura period (1185-1333).

 

There are two torii（鳥居) gates carved with dragons. Torii gates with dragons wrapped around them are rare in Tokyo,  and are also known as the three torii gates of Tokyo, since Shinagawa Shrine and Koenji-nai Inari Shrine are the only other torii gates in Tokyo.

 

龍のパワーをもつ阿佐ヶ谷の神社を訪れてきました。

馬橋稲荷神社には、龍の彫刻がされた二の鳥居があり、龍の巻いた鳥居は珍しく、東京ではほかに品川神社と高円寺内稲荷社のみのため、東京３鳥居とも呼ばれています。

 

Front gate Torii

 

Torii is a gateway of a shrine and passing the gateway means that you are entering the divine space.

 

 

Torii gate of the Dragons   龍の鳥居

 

　　　　

 

It is  believed that the ascending dragon delivers wishes to the heavens and the descending dragon bestows blessings.

昇り龍が天に願いを届け、降り龍がご利益を授けてくれと考えられている双龍。

 

It is a small shrine located in a residential area, and although I visited on a weekday, visitors came incessantly.

 

 

 

 

 

I wish you all a happy and peaceful year.

 

皆さまにとって心穏やかな佳き一年となりますように

 

■ Info :

Location: Between JR Asagaya station and Koenji station (About 6-8 mins from Sinjuku)

Official  website  馬橋稲荷神社 (mabashiinari.org)

19/01/2024