Fukagawa Shichifukujin Meguri

The practice of making a meguri, or pilgrimage, to shrines and temples of all the Shichifukujin (Seven Deities of Good Fortune) during O-Shogatsu (the New Year season) first became popular in Tokyo during the Edo period (1603-1868). Shichifukujin Meguri are still popular throughout Japan.

The Shichifukujin of the Fukagawa district of Tokyo's Koto-ku are Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Fukurokuju, Jurojin, and Hotei. You can make your own virtual Fukagawa Shichifukujin Meguri on this page with our best wishes for a happy year of the saru (monkey)--that's 2004. (The Shichifukujin Meguri of Koto-ku's Kameido district is here: Kameido Shichifukujin Meguri.)

Ebisu is enshrined at Tomioka Hachimangu (1-20-3 Tomioka), one of Tokyo's most important Shinto shrines. Tomioka Hachimangu, which is also known as Fukagawa Hachiman, was founded in 1624. Ebisu's shrine is the middle one of the three in the small enclosure to the left of and behind the main shrine. (All three shrines in this enclosure were rebuilt and rededicated in 2001.)

Daikokuten is enshrined at Enju-in (1-13-6 Hirano), a temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism. Enju-in, a subtemple of Joshin-ji, just across the road, was founded by the priest Nichien (d. 1741).

Benzaiten is enshrined at the Shinto shrine Fuyuki Bentendo (22-31 Fuyuki). Founded in 1705, Fuyuki Bentendo was originally the private family shrine of Fuyuki Yaheiji, one of the wealthiest lumber merchants of the time. Fuyuki Bentendo was opened to the public in 1870.

Fukurokuju is enshrined at the Buddhist temple Shingyo-ji (2-16-7 Fukagawa). Fukurokuju's shrine is just to the left of the temple's main building.

Jurojin is enshrined at the Shinto shrine Fukagawa Shimmeigu (1-3-17 Morishita), the oldest religious institution in Koto-ku. Jurojin's shrine, Juro Jinja, is to the right of the main shrine. Fukagawa Shimmeigu was originally the private family shrine of Fukagawa Hachiroemon, the leader of the seven entrepreneurs who reclaimed new rice fields in this area during the Keicho era (1596-1615).

Hotei is enshrined at the Shinto shrine Fukagawa Inari Jinja (2-12-12 Kiyosumi), which is said to have been founded in 1630. This shrine was originally called Nishi Oinari, after the address of its location, Nishi Daikumachi. The name of this location was changed following the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and the shrine was renamed around 1952.

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