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Japan isn’t just about sushi, cherry blossoms, and neon lights. It also offers deep-rooted spiritual traditions that can be experienced firsthand by visiting local shrines and temples. Whether you’re praying for success, health, love, or wealth, these five sacred places across Japan invite you to participate in centuries-old customs like drawing omikuji (fortune slips), buying omamori (charms), and making offerings.

Sacred Spots for Blessings and Good Fortune

Work & Career Success: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Wakayama

This ancient shrine, located in the heart of Wakayama, is the head shrine of over 3,000 Kumano shrines across Japan. Known for spiritual purification and career success, Kumano Hongu Taisha welcomes visitors through a massive torii gate standing proudly among rice fields. Inside, look out for the Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow symbol believed to guide and protect.

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• Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Address: Hongu, Hongu-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture

Academic Achievement: Dazaifu Tenmangu, Fukuoka

Dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the Shinto god of learning, this historic shrine in Fukuoka is one of the most popular destinations for students hoping to pass exams. Write your wishes on wooden ema plaques and hang them in the courtyard, or purchase scholarly omamori for good luck. Don’t forget to explore the lively street leading up to the shrine, lined with local snacks and souvenirs.

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• Hours: 6:00 AM (after spring equinox), 6:30 AM (after autumn equinox) – Closing varies by season
• Address: 4-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Love & Relationships: Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, Saitama

A popular matchmaking shrine near Tokyo, Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is famous for its romantic rituals. Visitors come early in the morning to receive a limited “matchmaking stone” that is believed to bring good fortune in love. Try your luck with tai-mikuji—a fortune tied to a cute fish-shaped charm. It’s also located in the charming town of Kawagoe, known for its old Edo-period atmosphere.

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• Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Address: 2-11-3 Miyashita-machi, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture

Wealth & Prosperity: Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine, Kamakura

Hidden in a cave in Kamakura, this shrine is famed for its money-washing ritual. Legend says that washing your money in the shrine’s spring will multiply it. People from all over Japan visit to bathe their coins and bills in hopes of attracting financial success. The serene, mossy setting adds to its mystical charm.

• Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Address: 2-25-16 Sasuke, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Health & Well-being: Inabado Byodo-ji Temple, Kyoto

For blessings of good health, visit Inabado (Byodo-ji), a lesser-known but beloved temple in Kyoto. It enshrines Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha, and offers unique omamori, including cat-shaped charms. The peaceful setting in downtown Kyoto provides a quiet moment of reflection in a bustling city.

• Hours: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Address: 728 Inabado-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

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