久富稲荷神社

Whispers of dreams fulfilled… That’s how the story of Hisatomi Inari Jinja begins. Here, nestled in the Shinmachi district of Tokyo, this Shinto shrine holds a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors alike. Hisatomi Inari Jinja’s history is shrouded in some mystery. While its exact origins remain unclear, historical records do mention a local Shinto deity protecting the 50 or so households of Shinmachi village during the Edo period. The Shin-pen-Musashi-Fudo-Kiko, an Edo-era gazetteer, tells us of three Inari shrines within the village. One, the Itomi Inari Jinja, still stands today, about 750 meters from Hisatomi Inari Jinja. The third shrine is lost to time, likely absorbed into another. The Hisatomi Inari Jinja we see today stands as a testament to its enduring spirit. The main shrine building was rebuilt in 1931, followed by the shrine office in 1986. Hisatomi Inari Jinja offers two unique features. First, there’s the 250-meter long sandō, an approach road that stretches behind the shrine, winding through the residential district. It’s a pathway shared by locals and visitors, five torii gates marking the transition from the everyday to the sacred. The second is the Fukurō-no-sha, the Owl Shrine. In the mid-Shōwa period, owls nested in an old tree within the shrine grounds. Their elusive forms and calls in the night sparked whispers of fulfilled dreams among those fortunate enough to encounter them. This led to the dedication of the small Owl Shrine, where a flea market, the Fukuro Festival, now takes place twice a year, in May and November. Ukanomitama-no-kami is the main deity enshrined at Hisatomi Inari Jinja. This shrine, dedicated to the god of food and agriculture, offers a quiet respite and a touch of magic in the heart of Tokyo.