Hie Shrine Tokyo: History, Torii Gates & How to Get There

Hie Shrine Tokyo: History, Torii Gates & How to Get There

Hie Shrine is a peaceful Shinto sanctuary in central Tokyo, set on a hill near Akasaka and Japan’s political district. During the fifteenth century, the warrior Ota Dokan established a shrine within Edo Castle, bringing its deity from Kawagoe’s Hie Shrine. Under the Tokugawa shoguns, it gained powerful patronage and became a spiritual protector of the ruling family and their city.

The shrine was later moved outside the castle, so the people of Edo could worship there. After the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657, it was rebuilt at its present location in 1659 under Tokugawa Ietsuna. Its Sanno Festival developed into one of Edo’s three major festivals, reflecting its close relationship with the shogunate.

Previously known as Sanno Gongen, it received the name Hie Shrine in 1869. Air raids destroyed its buildings in 1945, and reconstruction was completed in 1958.

Getting There

The closest stations are Akasaka on the Chiyoda Line (Exit 2) and Tameike-sanno on the Ginza and Namboku lines (Exit 7), both around three minutes’ walk away. Kokkai-gijidomae Station (Exit 5) is approximately five minutes away, while Akasaka-mitsuke Station (Exit 11) is about eight minutes away.

The easiest approach is by the large pale stone torii gate on the Sotobori-dori side. This entrance leads to a broad staircase with outdoor escalators alongside it. These take you up to the shrine grounds without having to climb the many stairs.

We used the Inari approach on the western side, where stone stairs climb through a tunnel of closely spaced vermilion torii gates. These are similar to those of Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto although not as large or extensive.

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