As you might already know, we have many different cultures here in Japan.
This is one of them you might not know, and I just realized it could be our original custom.
Here let me introduce to you all.
Suitengu Shrine
We have literally thousands of shrines in town from olden days. You will find shrines and temples at every corner and it is a completely usual scene in Japan.
But this one is one of a kind, because people visit here for a few specific reasons.
“Suitengu” shrine is located in center of Tokyo and known for providing benefits of giving a birth to healthy baby and easy delivery for moms.
It is a custom in Japan for pregnant women and their partners to visit here and pray for healthy baby when they are around 5 months pregnant.
You will see a lot of couples with a cute little baby bumps coming here to pray for it.
It just melts my heart to see them rubbing their belly with happy smiles.
Kappa
Of course, you don’t have to be pregnant to visit here.
You can simply go there and pray for good fortunes.
There is a little statue of Japanese creature called “Kappa” holding three babies.
Can you find all three in the pictures?
Can you find all three in the pictures?
Symbol of safe delivery
The most popular statue of this shrine is this.
It might sounds crazy, but you would often see a long line of people in front of this statute waiting to touch it.
Because the dog is an animal that give birth to a lot of puppies smoothly, it is considered as the symbol of safe delivery in Japan from olden days.
How about to visit here for your future baby? Or for baby of your friends and family?
You’ll love to walk around a town near the shrine also, especially if you like Japanese historical town.
Suitengu Shrine (only in Japanese)
- Address: 2-4-1 Nihombashi, Kakigaracho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Phone: 03-3666-7195
- Open: 7:00AM-5:00PM
- MAP:
Comments