Kameido Tenjin's Wisteria Color the Spring in the Kanto Region
Kameido Tenjin Shrine is noted for beautiful flowers and its wisteria festival is the most celebrated in the region. The festival is free and runs to April 30.
Sakura blossoms are easily the most well-known sign of spring in Japan. But they are only one of a succession of floral explosions that draw large crowds, including ume (Japanese apricot), tsutsuji (azalea), and ajisai (hydrangea). Fuji (wisteria) are at their peak in the Kanto area as this is published. While there are numerous venues featuring wisteria, the most celebrated in Tokyo is Kameido Tenjin, also noted for its ume.
This shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, who is regarded as the patron saint of scholars. Kameido Tenjin is modeled in part on the Dazaifu Tenmangu in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture. As such it attracts students praying for success in entrance examinations.
The shrine dates from 1646. Unfortunately, the original was destroyed in one of the American firebombraids on Tokyo. It can, however, be seen in woodblock prints.
A Festival of Wisteria
The wisteria festival runs until April 30. Aside from a larger than usual number of food stalls, there are live performances of traditional Japanese dance and music on weekends. The grounds are lit up from dusk to 9 pm.
The current state of the blossom can be checked from the Kameido Tenjin Shrine site on Instagram.
Getting There
The shrine is a 15-minute walk from the Kameido Station on the Sobu Line. It is about the same distance from the Kinshicho Station on the Sobu and Hanzomon Lines.
There is no admission charge.
Getting Around In the Shrine
The shrine itself is flat and accessible for wheelchair users except for the two arched bridges. Movement is, however, difficult when the shrine is extremely crowded as it was when I visited.
Conclusion
A visit to Kameido Tenjin is a good way to experience the Japanese enthusiasm for flowers and spiritual belief in everyday life. It offers a variety of festival and street food. The shrine's proximity to Akihabara and the Tokyo SkyTree allows quite different experiences on the same day.
Those who wish to avoid crowds should visit in the early morning on weekdays.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login