Kameido 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 Kameido district of Tokyo's Koto-ku are Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Fukurokuju, Jurojin, and Hotei. You can make your own virtual Kameido 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 Fukagawa district is here: Fukagawa Shichifukujin Meguri.)

Both Ebisu and Daikokuten are enshrined at the ancient Shinto shrine Katori Jinja (3-57-22 Kameido). Founded in 665, Katori Jinja is the oldest shrine in Koto-ku. The joint shrine of Ebisu and Daikokuten is in the middle of a long row of small shrines to the right of the main shrine.

Top of This Page

Bishamonten is enshrined at Fumon-in (3-43-3 Kameido), a temple of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. Fumon-in was founded in 1522. Bishamonten's shrine is to the left of the main temple building.

Top of This Page

Benzaiten is enshrined at the Buddhist temple Tokaku-ji (4-24-1 Kameido), which is thought to have been founded in 1531. Her shrine is just to the right of the temple gate.

Top of This Page

Fukurokuju is enshrined at the Shinto shrine Tenso Jinja (3-38-35 Kameido), which is said to have been founded sometime between 593 and 628. Fukurokuju's shrine is in a grove to the right of the main shrine.

Top of This Page

Jurojin is enshrined at Joko-ji (4-48-3 Kameido), a temple of the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism. In the Edo period, Joko-ji was one of the temples visited by Buddhists making a pilgrimage to famous images of Amida Buddha. Jurojin's shrine is in the corner on the left of the temple buildings.

Top of This Page

Hotei is enshrined at Ryugan-ji (3-34-2 Kameido), which was founded in 1395. A temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, Ryugani-ji is famed for its bush clover and is also known as Hagi-dera, or Bush Clover Temple. Hotei's shrine is on path on the right of the temple buidlings.