Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine 川越氷川神社
Kawagoe, Saitama · Open in Google Maps
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, in the old merchant town of Kawagoe, is one of the most popular matchmaking shrines in the Kantō region. Its deities include the married couple Susanoo and Kushinada-hime, which is why it is so closely linked with love and marriage.
What to look for
- Its fortune slips come inside little sea bream (tai) that you "fish" out of a basin with a small rod.
- In summer the shrine hangs rows of wind chimes, each with a wish tied to it.
- It combines easily with a walk through Kawagoe's old warehouse-style streets, known as "Little Edo".
Enshrined kami
- Susanoo 素盞嗚尊
- Kushinada-hime 奇稲田姫命
- Ōkuninushi 大己貴命
What people pray for here
Matchmaking, a happy marriage and family harmony.
Etiquette
If your fortune is unlucky, tie it at the shrine rather than taking it home.
New to shrines? Read our short guide to shrine etiquette: purifying your hands, bowing and clapping, offerings, omamori and goshuin.