Tucked away in Tokyo’s historic Katsushika Ward, Horikiri Tenso Shrine offers a delightfully uncommon spiritual spectacle: a complete pantheon of anthropomorphic Chinese zodiac deities. While the twelve zodiac animals are deeply embedded in Japanese calendar lore, seeing them sculpted and revered as distinct divine statues is an exceptionally rare find. The quiet shrine grounds are also home to effigies of the Seven Lucky Gods, introduced after a buried statue of Benzaiten was unearthed here in the early 20th century. A visit offers a peaceful stroll through neighborhood history, where travelers can seek out their own birth-year guardian in stone.
- Shrine
- Shinto
- Statues
- Zodiac
- Off the Beaten Path
- Sacred Sites
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