Collect goshuin stamps in Asakusa, where shrines and temples are gathered!
Collecting goshuin stamps, which are proof of visiting shrines and temples, is becoming popular, and since Asakusa is a city where many shrines and temples gather, you can collect many goshuin stamps in one day. It might be a good idea to combine it with sightseeing. This time, we will introduce a goshuin stamp course in Asakusa.
Sensoji Temple
The first place to start your goshuin tour is Sensoji Temple. Sensoji Temple is a famous spot visited by 30 million people every year, so many people want to get a goshuin. It's a good idea to arrive early to make your subsequent visits go smoothly. That said, you won't be able to enjoy sightseeing if you're always pressed for time. Enjoy sightseeing in Asakusa, such as eating your way through Nakamise Street from Kaminarimon.
To receive a goshuin at Sensoji Temple, go to the back of the main hall and head to the Kagekido Hall on the left. Also, if you don't have a goshuin book, be sure to purchase one before you visit. It would be considered very rude to go to make a request without your goshuin book, so please be careful.
Asakusa Shrine
Next, we head to Asakusa Shrine. Asakusa Shrine is located next to Sensoji Temple. It is famous for the annual Sanja Matsuri, one of the three major festivals of Edo. Asakusa Shrine is popular for the colorful limited edition Goshuin stamps it issues every month for a limited time. You can get the stamps at the gift shop to the right of the worship hall.
Please check the website for information on the colorful goshuin stamps that are available for a limited time each month.
Hikan Inari Shrine
Be sure to also visit Heikan Inari Shrine, which is enshrined as a sub-shrine within the grounds of Asakusa Shrine. This shrine enshrines the god of career advancement and is said to bring good luck in business. It is also known as a valuable historical building that survived the Great Tokyo Air Raids and the Great Kanto Earthquake. You can also get the Heikan Inari Shrine's goshuin stamp at the shrine gift shop, so be sure to ask for it as well.
Imado Shrine
After continuing near Sensoji Temple, we move a little and head to Imado Shrine. Imado Shrine is said to bring good luck in finding a partner, and people whose wishes have been granted donate votive plaques to the shrine. There are many votive plaques on display, so you can feel the strength of the shrine's good luck. It is also known as the birthplace of the maneki-neko (beckoning cat), and although there are various theories, it is also the place where Shinsengumi's Okita Souji met his end. There are many maneki-neko (beckoning cats) on display within the shrine grounds, creating a cute atmosphere that makes you want to visit even if you're not on a goshuin (shrine stamp) tour. There is a goshuin (shrine stamp) issuing office to the right of the worship hall.
Mimeguri Shrine
After receiving the goshuin at Imado Shrine, cross the X-shaped Sakura Bridge and move to the Sumida Ward side. If you go forward so that Tokyo Skytree is on your left, you will arrive at Minomiya Shrine. In fact, this shrine is deeply revered as the guardian deity of the Mitsui Group, a real estate company, and apparently receives support from them. As you go along the approach to the shrine, you will find the lion statue from the Mitsukoshi Ikebukuro store, which closed in 2009, relocated and dedicated here. There are many fox Inari shrines within the grounds. You can get this goshuin at the office to the right of the main shrine.
Ushijima Shrine
After leaving Minomiya Shrine, proceed towards Kototoi Bridge for about 4 minutes and you will arrive at Ushijima Shrine. The shrine grounds are home to a rare Miwa Torii (three-gate) and a stroking cow, which is said to bring good luck when you stroke it. After receiving your goshuin, you can have a meal by Tokyo Skytree, or cross Kototoi Bridge and stop by Suzukien on Kototoi Street to take a break and enjoy the world's richest matcha ice cream.
What do you think? The total walking distance was 2.3 kilometers for the Goshuin route. There is a bus from Sensoji Temple to Imado Shrine, so if you are a little worried about moving around in a yukata, for example, you can use that. Please use it as a reference.
Finally, goshuin stamps are received as proof that you have visited a temple. Many people mistakenly think that goshuin stamps are something to enjoy like a stamp rally, so please enjoy them while respecting the gods and Buddhas and observing proper manners when purchasing goshuin stamps.
For more information about VASARA Kimono Rental Sensoji store, click here
There are other ways to enjoy collecting goshuin stamps
