Blending seamlessly into an office building in Nihonbashi, Takao Inari Shrine offers one of the capital's most unusual tales of folk devotion. The quiet sanctuary features an avant-garde steel torii gate and fox statues guarding a sacred spirit: 17th-century courtesan Takao-Dayū, syncretized with the Shinto deity Inari. According to legend, the shrine was founded around a relic believed to be her severed skull, turning the spot into a niche pilgrimage site for those seeking relief from headaches and head ailments. It is a fascinating, offbeat slice of Edo-period folklore hidden in plain sight amid modern skyscrapers.
- Folklore & Legends
- Shrines
- Quirky & Unusual
- Shintoism
- Hidden Gems
- Historic Sites
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