Hikawa Shrine (Musashi Ichinomiya) 武蔵一宮 氷川神社
Omiya, Saitama · Open in Google Maps
Hikawa Shrine in Ōmiya is the head of the many Hikawa shrines around Tokyo and Saitama, and was the most important shrine of old Musashi Province. The city's name, Ōmiya ("great shrine"), comes from it.
What to look for
- It enshrines Susanoo, his wife Kushinada-hime and Ōkuninushi.
- The shrine is approached along one of the longest tree-lined shrine avenues in Japan, a pleasant walk from Ōmiya Station.
- It sits next to Ōmiya Park, a popular cherry-blossom spot.
Enshrined kami
- Susanoo 須佐之男命
- Kushinada-hime 稲田姫命
- Ōkuninushi 大己貴命
What people pray for here
Warding off misfortune, matchmaking and family harmony.
Etiquette
Walk the full avenue rather than taking a shortcut: approaching along the sandō is part of the visit.
New to shrines? Read our short guide to shrine etiquette: purifying your hands, bowing and clapping, offerings, omamori and goshuin.