Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
5 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
6 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
7 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
8 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Tokyo Takagi Shrine

Takagi Shrine

Rice balls symbolize fate and relationship at this adorable shrine, which was once dedicated to the Buddhist Devil.

Tokyo, Japan

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Tiny onigiri pebbles.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Tiny onigiri pebbles.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Takagi Shrine.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Omusubi everywhere.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Musubi-Ishi, the Connection Stone.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Notice the tiny rice ball in the lion-dog’s mouth.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Rice balls represent human connection.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Tiny, and tinier.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Go-en is a significant aspect of Japanese culture, a unique concept of relationship, causality, serendipity, opportunity, and fate. It's somewhat similar in spirit to the phrase "God willing" in monotheistic cultures, but more hopeful and associated with good luck in general. The word is also commonly used in romantic context, and many Shinto shrines are popular for their influence in en-musubi ("tying the knot").

Takagi Shrine in Sumida City, Tokyo, is one of the few shrines in Japan dedicated to Takami-Musubi, an androgynous deity of creation and birth, who was born as the second entity in the universe's history according to Japanese mythology. Because of their name, the shrine is associated with the concept of en-musubi, as well as, well, rice balls.

In Japan, rice balls are known as onigiri and omusubi, meaning "clasped" and "fastened," respectively. At Takagi Shrine, you can find them everywhere, piles of tiny pebbles with cute faces and seaweed wrappers drawn on them. Hidden like Easter eggs, even in the guardian lion-dog's mouth, the rounded triangles are easily distinguishable and can be also seen in the prayer boards, amulets, you name it. Visitors can also take a tiny "musubi stone" home upon purchasing a goshuin stamp.

Interestingly, despite the extensive musubi-inspired theming, the shrine's main subject of worship was not Takami-Musubi when it was established in 1468 AD. Prior to the Shinto-Buddhism separation of 1868, the shrine was managed by the adjacent Buddhist temple and originally known as Dairokutensha, dedicated to Dairoku-Tenma-Ō, the "Devil King of the Sixth Heaven."

Identified with the demon Mara, this Buddhist Devil is known as an evil tempter and deceiver of monks. In spite of that, there still are multiple Dairokutensha shrines across Japan. Some believe that they may have been influenced by Oda Nobunaga, the most infamous warlord of feudal Japan, who gave himself the moniker of the Devil King to instill fear into his enemies.

Related Tags

History & Culture Rice Shrines

Know Before You Go

Takagi Shrine can be reached from either Hikifune or Oshiage Station, give or take a 10-minute walk from the landmark Tokyo Skytree. While its grounds are accessible 24/7, note that the office (where visitors can buy amulets) is only open from 9 am to 4 pm.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Published

August 30, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Takagi Shrine
Sumida City
Tokyo, 131-0045
Japan
35.714769, 139.815217
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Mimeguri Shrine

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Koguma

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Kototoi Bridge

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tokyo

Tokyo

Japan

Places 220
Stories 13

Nearby Places

Mimeguri Shrine

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Koguma

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Kototoi Bridge

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tokyo

Tokyo

Japan

Places 220
Stories 13

Related Places

  • The site of the mythological Sanada no Osada.

    Kirishima, Japan

    Sanada no Osada

    According to Japanese mythology, the first rice paddy in history was created here many aeons ago.

  • The city pillar

    Vientiane, Laos

    Hor Lak Muang

    The site of an ancient city pillar that was lost and rediscovered.

  • Don’t tread on me!

    Kamakura, Japan

    Seimei Stone

    Associated with Japanese folklore's most eminent sorcerer, this slab of rock is said to be both a blessing and a curse.

  • Bangkok’s two lak mueang standing side by side.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    City Pillar Shrine

    The pillars inside this small, ornate shrine hold Bangkok's horoscope within them.

  • Mahō Jinja (Magical Shrine)

    Soja, Japan

    Mahō Jinja (Magical Shrine)

    This unusual "magical shrine" honors a legendary raccoon-dog god that stowed away to Japan from some far-off land.

  • Namazu-San, the Lucky Catfish

    Itakura, Japan

    Namazu-San, the Lucky Catfish

    Thanks to wordplay, the earthquake-causing catfish monster has become a god of confidence at this shrine.

  • Father Seelos Center

    New Orleans, Lousiana

    Father Seelos Center

    This site is dedicated to a candidate for sainthood and contains personal items including his cilice and lead coffin.

  • camels and a horse

    Qobustan, Azerbaijan

    Sofi Hamid

    A colorful and enigmatic cemetery in the middle of nowhere.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.