Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Gods Circuit 2010 日本橋 七福神巡り

One of the main activities of the New Year’s celebrations is visiting the Seven Lucky Gods for auspicious tidings on one of the circuits in Tokyo. Many of the small shrines and temples on the circuits are only open to visitors around this time, so it is also a good chance to see them. The most common circuits in Tokyo are that of Nihonbashi, Sumidagawa, Asakusa, Yanaka, and once upon a time Ginza, but the last one hasn’t been open for several years now. In 2007, I went on the circuit in Yanaka and last year I went o Asakusa, but last year I went with friends and we didn’t end up doing it in any logical manner or even visiting all seven gods, so I will need to do it again sometime.

The circuit in Nihonbashi purportedly began around 500 years ago during the Muromachi period (1392-1573). Although many of the circuits are a combination of Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples, the Nihonbashi circuit is made up of all Shintō shrines. The shrines are all fairly close together so it can also be completely in a matter of a couple of hours, unlike the longer circuits where the individual sites are more widely spaced apart. The circuit follows around the streets of Nihonbashi-dōri and Ningyōchō-dori, so you get walk around the old downtown, shitamachi, of Edo (now Tokyo). This year I went on the tour sponsored by the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi store, I believe the oldest department store in the world, which started out as a kimono shop several hundred years ago. It was wonderfully easy, since Mitsukoshi handed out maps of the circuit and yellow ribbons to identify participants, plus the shop assistants stood on the corners of the streets to guide one along. The day I went, I also saw lots of local salarymen from local small businesses making the circuit as well, probably praying for better business in these troubled financial times.

At the top left, you can see the shikishi paper-board one can purchase to collect all the stamps from each shrine visited.


1. The God of Wealth and Longevity, Fukurokuju (福禄寿) at Koami Jinja (小網神社 コアミジンジャ)



2. The God of Happiness, Hotei (布袋尊) at Chanoki Jinja (茶ノ木神社 チャノキジンジャ)
(Oops, forgot to take a picture, so here added a photo from the Mitsukoshi pamphlet)



3. The Goddess of Music and Arts, Benzaiten (弁財天) at Suitengū (水天宮 スイテングウ)



Another shrine building at Suitengū



4. The God of Fotune, Daikokujin (大国神) at Matsushima Jinja (松島神社 マツシマジンジャ)


5. The God of Treasure, Bishamonten (毘沙門天) at Ebisu Jinja (末廣神社 スエヒロジンジャ)



6. The God of Longevity, Jurojin (寿老神) at Kasama Inari Jinja (笠間稲荷神社 カサマイナリジンジャ)



7. The Good of Longevity and Fortune, Ebisu (恵比寿神) at Suginomori Jinja (椙森神社 スギノモリジンジャ)



8. The Good of Longevity and Fortune, Ebisu (恵比寿神) at Takarada Ebisu Jinja (宝田恵比寿神社 タカラダエビスジンジャ)



* See also Tokyo Shichi Fukujin Meguri Guide (東京の七福神めぐり)

* Click images below to enlarge for map of the circuit and more information about the shrines.