Akihabara's Kanda Myojin Shrine [神田明神] has been getting quite popular these days partly due to its Ita-Ema [痛絵馬] - ema with cute moe illustrations. Ema [絵馬] are small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshippers write their wishes and hang it up at the shrine so that god will receive them. They are hung up for a while before being burned.
Kanda Myojin had only a few Ita-Ema back in 2009 but gradually increased over the years and it's been said that there were more than 170 ita-ema this year.
Some of these are drawn by professional manga artists and illustrators that you may recognise.
Looks like Kancolle was really popular this year!
Kanda Myojin Shrine address as follows.
東京都千代田区外神田2-16-2
View location with Google Maps
Folks don't go to a shrine just to look at Ema though - they go to pay their respects to the gods which is what we usually do to. The following posts cover our visits to Shrines or temples at the beginning of the year.
-Japanese New Year 2006 (Meiji Jingu in Harajuku)
-Japanese New Year 2007 (Sensouji in Asakusa)
-Japanese New Year 2008 (Meguro Fudouson)
-Japanese New Year 2009 (Meguro Fudouson)
-Japanese New Year 2010 (Meguro Fudouson)
-Japanese New Year 2011 (Meguro Fudouson)
-Japanese New Year 2012 (Meguro Fudouson)
Also spotted loads of Yatai [屋台] serving noms near the shrine.
More places to visit in Japan listed up below.
- Asakusa in the Winter 2013
- Tokyo illuminations
- Odaiba in the Winter 2013
- History of Shibuya
- Akihabara Shops 12
- Nikko Toshogu
- Japan Donki
- Ikaho Onsen
- Melonbooks
- Kobe Tetsujin
- View more
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