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BASICS
What God Is Enshrined at Hikawa Shrine? — Susanoo, Guardian of Musashi, and 280 Kanto Shrines
Hikawa shrines — 280 in Kanto — enshrine Susanoo no Mikoto and Kushinadahime, the guardian deities of ancient Musashi Province (modern Saitama and Tokyo). Omiya Hikawa Shrine is the head shrine.
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Author
Hijiri
| Shrines & Temples
Contents
MOKUJI
1
Hikawa Shrine's Deity——Who Is Susanoo?
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2
Blessings and Proper Worship Etiquette
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3
Representative Hikawa Shrines——A Pilgrimage Spot Guide
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4
Frequently Asked Questions
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Hikawa Shrine enshrines Susanoo (Susanoo-no-Mikoto), the storm deity of Japanese mythology, and the approximately 280 shrines in the Kanto region form one of the largest shrine networks in eastern Japan. With Musashino Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine in Omiya, Saitama as the head shrine, the network is celebrated for blessings in matchmaking, warding off evil, and household safety — a living testament to how Izumo faith took root in the east.
Hikawa Shrine’s Deity——Who Is Susanoo?
The Mythological Identity of Susanoo
Susanoo-no-Mikoto is one of the greatest hero deities in Japanese mythology and the younger brother of Amaterasu, the sun goddess. Banished from the heavens, he descended to Izumo and slew the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi, rescuing Kushinadahime (Kushi-Inadahime) in the process. From this heroic act, he became venerated as a deity of evil-warding, good fortune, and household protection.
Deity
Blessings
Susanoo-no-Mikoto
Evil-warding, fortune, martial valor
Kushi-Inadahime
Love matches, safe childbirth
Onamuchi-no-Mikoto
Matchmaking, medicine, nation-building
Why Hikawa Shrines Spread Across the Kanto Region
The name “Hikawa” is thought to derive from the Hi River (Hii-kawa) in Izumo, reflecting the eastward migration of Susanoo worship from ancient Shimane. Samurai clans including the Minamoto (Kamakura shogunate) and the Tokugawa (Edo shogunate) patronized Hikawa shrines, propelling the faith across approximately 280 shrines in the Kanto plain.
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Blessings and Proper Worship Etiquette
Main Blessings of Hikawa Shrines
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Matchmaking and love: Susanoo and Kushinadahime are a divine married couple, making Hikawa shrines ideal for romance and marriage prayers
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Evil-warding: the dragon-slaying god dispels disasters
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Household safety and business prosperity: as tutelary gods of the region
Hikawa Shrine (Sagamihara) and Hikawa Nyotai Shrine both receive matchmaking prayers throughout the year. Shibuya Hikawa Shrine in central Tokyo draws young worshippers seeking romantic blessings in a forested sanctuary, while Shinagawa Hikawa Shrine has guarded travelers along the old Tokaido road since the Edo period. Hikawadai Hikawa Shrine serves as the quiet neighborhood tutelary shrine in Nerima, Tokyo.
Correct Worship Procedure
Follow the standard two bows, two claps, one bow sequence. Purify your hands at the temizuya (water basin) before approaching the main hall. Walking along the side of the central approach (sando) rather than the middle is considered respectful.
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Representative Hikawa Shrines——A Pilgrimage Spot Guide
Shrine
Location
Highlights
Musashino Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine
Omiya, Saitama
Head shrine; 2 km sacred approach
Hikawa Nyotai Shrine
Midori Ward, Saitama
Main deity is Kushinadahime
Shibuya Hikawa Shrine
Shibuya, Tokyo
Urban matchmaking shrine
Shinagawa Hikawa Shrine
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Guardian of the old Tokaido
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the head Hikawa Shrine?
The head shrine is Musashino Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine in Omiya, Saitama City. Founded approximately 2,400 years ago by tradition, it served as the first-rank shrine (ichinomiya) of Musashi Province and was patronized by successive military governments.
What is the connection between Hikawa Shrines and Izumo?
The name Hikawa is believed to derive from the Hii River in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture. Ancient settlers who migrated from Izumo to Musashi Province are thought to have brought Susanoo worship with them, planting the faith that eventually grew into the 280-shrine network.
Last updated: May 28, 2026
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Author
Hijiri（ひじり）
Shrines & Temples
Toku editorial team — shrines and temples. Former designer who reads temple architecture and gardens through an aesthetic lens, quietly tracing the lineages of sects and doctrines.
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Visit Related Places
History truly comes alive when you visit in person. Choose your next destination from the related sites and pilgrimage courses below.
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1. Hikawa Jinja (Sagamihara)
Evidence of Musashi's Hikawa worship spreading to Sagami Province — an evil-warding shrine at the provincial boundary
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2. Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Nyotai Jinja
The paired female shrine to Omiya Hikawa Shrine — a Engishiki shrine flanking the sacred lake of Minuma with its male counterpart, preserving ancient ritual traditions, with the May Iwafune Festival continuing the water deity rites of Minuma
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3. Shibuya Hikawa Shrine
Shibuya's oldest shrine, said to have been founded by Yamato Takeru on his return from eastern campaigns
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4. Hikawa Shrine (Shinagawa)
Enshrining Susanoo and Inadahime in the Hikawa tradition rooted at Omiya — the venerable tutelary shrine of Gotanda's western neighborhood, known for matchmaking blessings.
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5. Hikawadai Hikawa Shrine
Founded in 1457 by Ota Dokan — the same year he built Edo Castle — when he invited a spirit from Omiya Hikawa to guard the castle's north; the place name 'Hikawadai' derives from this shrine, which still holds Edo-era stone monuments.
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