A must-see for anime fans! Suga Shrine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

A trip to enjoy Yotsuya's history, gourmet food, and unknown charms
Dedicated to all anime fans who were fascinated by "Your Name"! That excitement and excitement are vividly revived beyond time on a pilgrimage to the sacred site of Suga Shrine in Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. Suga Shrine, which has been revered by locals as the "chief guardian of Yotsuya", has been transformed into a sacred place that attracts the attention of people from all over the world when it was depicted as a symbolic place in Makoto Shinkai's masterpiece anime "Your Name."
- Pilgrimage to the Holy Land to the world of "Your Name"!
- What is Suga Shrine? Unraveling the sacred land of anime, history and benefits
- Let's open the door to the access to Suga Shrine and the holy place!
- Pilgrimage to the Holy Land! A thorough guide to the highlights of Suga Shrine
- A great adventure in the city of Yotsuya! Immerse yourself in history, culture and gastronomy!
- Manners and precautions for enjoying a pilgrimage to the Holy Land
- Summary: Let's experience the world of "Your Name" with all five senses at Suga Shrine and discover the charm of Yotsuya!
- What is Suga Shrine? Unraveling the sacred land of anime, history and benefits
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land to the world of "Your Name"!

In this article, we will thoroughly introduce the history, culture, and unknown charms of the city of Yotsuya, along with gourmet information, as well as detailed information on the history and benefits of Suga Shrine and how to enjoy the pilgrimage to the Holy Land of "Your Name." In addition to reliving the excitement of the movie, we promise that it will be an unforgettable trip that will allow you to understand the world of "Your Name" more deeply and feel it with all five senses by walking around every corner of the city of Yotsuya, experiencing history and culture, and enjoying delicious food.
What is Suga Shrine? Unraveling the sacred land of anime, history and benefits
Name: Suga Shrine
Location: 5 Suka-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Shrine
Susanoo no Mikoto, a god who is said to ward off disasters and bring happiness. Locally, it is worshipped as "Suga Ōkami (Sugano Wolf)" and is said to have the benefits of amulet and good luck.
Ukanomi Tamanokami, the god of the five grains. Also known as the god Inari, it is said to have the benefits of prosperous business and family safety.
Highlights
The iconic staircase of the anime "Your Name"


Bright vermilion torii gate

Temizusha with dragon carvings

A komainu with an adorable expression

A worship hall with a quiet and calm atmosphere

A lively festival held in September

The history and time of its founding are uncertain, but the most likely theory is that it was commissioned from Kyoto during the Muromachi period. In the Edo period, as the chief guardian of the Yotsuya area, he received a strong faith from the local people and continued to watch over the area.
It is said to have a wide range of benefits, such as benefits and amulet, good luck, prosperous business, family safety, marriage, and academic achievement 。
Let's open the door to the access to Suga Shrine and the holy place!
Suga Shrine is easily accessible by public transportation.

train
Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Yotsuya Sanchome Station About 7 minutes on foot
JR Chuo Line / Sobu Line Yotsuya Station About 10 minutes on foot
On the way from Yotsuya Sanchome Station, it is recommended to take a leisurely stroll while thinking of the scene from the anime "Your Name." Let's enjoy the cityscape of Yotsuya while enhancing the mood of pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land! A thorough guide to the highlights of Suga Shrine
If you visit Suga Shrine, the staircase of "Your Name," you can't miss the staircase depicted in the film's climactic scene as the place where the main characters, Taki and Mitsuha, meet fatefully. When you see the stairs in front of you, the excitement of the movie will be vividly revived, and your heart will definitely be warmed!

Recommended things to do: Take a photo with the same composition as in the movie, sit on the stairs to reflect on the story, or look down on the cityscape of Yotsuya from the stairs.

Attention
Stairs are also a road for local residents, so be careful not to interfere with traffic. It is strictly forbidden to occupy for a long time or make a lot of noise. When taking pictures, please refrain from using a tripod so as not to disturb others.

Hidden spot information・In the early morning and at dusk, there are relatively few people, and you can enjoy the stairs slowly.
Vermilion torii ・ When you go up the stairs, you will see a bright vermilion torii gate in front of you. The torii gate is the entrance to the sanctuary, and by passing through it, you can switch your consciousness from the everyday world to the sacred world. Let's bow lightly in front of the torii gate and proceed to the precincts with a calm mind.
Recommended way to enjoy it: It is also recommended to take in the lush scenery that can be seen at the back of the torii gate.
Temizusha with dragon carvings The temizusha where you cleanse your hands and mouth before visiting the shrine is decorated with delicate dragon carvings. Let's cleanse our bodies and minds with pure water and show our respect to God.

Fun fact: Since ancient times, dragons have been revered as gods of water.
A pair of komainu dogs with adorable expressions sit at the entrance of the temple grounds. Komainu is a guardian deity that protects the sacred area, and each one has a different expression and posture. If you take the time to look closely, you may discover something surprising.

There are checkpoints, an agyō with an open mouth and a snout with a closed mouth.
The worship hall of Suga Shrine is a building with a calm atmosphere. In front of the worship hall, express your daily gratitude, pray for wishes, and face God calmly.
Etiquette: Let's worship with the etiquette of two bows, two claps, and one bow.

Visiting the precincts of the shrine - There are several small shrines in the precincts of Suga Shrine. Each shrine is enshrined with a different deity, and it is said that there are various benefits such as marriage, academic achievement, and prosperous business. If you have time to spare, visit all the companies.
Checkpoint Let's find out what kind of god is enshrined in which shrine.
Collect red seals・ At Suga Shrine, you can receive a red seal as a proof of your visit. Bring your red seal book and add the red seal of Suga Shrine to your collection to commemorate your pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Let's check the reception hours of the red seal and the hours when the company office is open.
Amulet of Ichiyo Raifu (for a limited time) ・ This is a special amulet that is distributed only during the period from the winter solstice to Setsubun. It is said to increase luck, and many people come to seek this amulet.

Due to the difficulty and popularity of the temple, it is recommended to visit the temple as soon as possible.
A great adventure in the city of Yotsuya! Immerse yourself in history, culture and gastronomy!
Yotsuya, where Suga Shrine is located, is a city with a history and culture that developed as an important area under Edo Castle during the Edo period and flourished as a post town on the Koshu Highway. After visiting Suga Shrine, take a stroll through every corner of the city of Yotsuya and indulge in its history, culture, and delicious gastronomy!


Historical Exploration
Yotsuya, a place associated with Yotsuya ghost stories, is dotted with places related to the ghost story "Yotsuya Kaidan" that gained popularity in the Edo period.
Historical site tour・ Yotsuya has many historical sites and temples and shrines that retain the remnants of the Edo period.

Gourmet Experiences
In Yotsuya, a long-established soba restaurant, there are many long-established soba restaurants that have been around since the Edo period.
Café Yotsuya is dotted with cafes that look like hideaways that stand quietly.
B-class gourmet Yotsuya has a wide variety of B-grade gourmet foods loved by locals.

Recommended Gourmet Spots
Soba / "Daian" (Daian): Founded in the first year of the Meiji era, a famous restaurant for handmade soba noodles. You can taste authentic soba noodles in a tasteful restaurant.
Sweetness, "Oiwake Dango Honpo": A long-established store founded in the Edo period. The famous Oiwake dango is perfect as a souvenir.
Curry "Curry House CoCo Ichibanya Shinjuku Ward Office 2nd Branch Office Store": How about a stable cocoichi for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land?
Manners and precautions for enjoying a pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Taking photos on the stairs The stairs are a popular photo spot, but they are also the roads where local residents live, so be careful not to interfere with traffic.

Tranquility in the precincts The precincts of Suga Shrine are a quiet and sacred space. Refrain from making loud noises or causing trouble to others.
Clothing ・ The shrine is a sacred place, so avoid revealing or flashy clothes, and wear clean clothes when you worship.
Consideration for the surrounding area: The area around Suga Shrine is a quiet residential area. Refrain from making noise or littering or other nuisances.
By gathering information and researching sightseeing information in Yotsuya in advance, you can enjoy a more fulfilling pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Summary: Let's experience the world of "Your Name" with all five senses at Suga Shrine and discover the charm of Yotsuya!
Suga Shrine is a fascinating place where you can not only make a pilgrimage to the sacred site of "Your Name," but also experience the history, culture, and delicious food of Yotsuya. While reliving the excitement of the movie, stroll through the streets of Yotsuya and create special memories.
Let's go to Suga Shrine! The world of "Your Name" and the charm of Yotsuya are waiting for you! We hope this trip will be an unforgettable experience for you.




