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Overview
Ohayashi Inari Shrine is a small Inari shrine tucked away in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. Inari shrines, beloved across Japan, are dedicated to the bounty of rice and food, prosperous business, and safety in the home. This shrine, too, stands quietly as a small guardian watching over local life in a corner of Bunkyo that still holds an old downtown mood. Its charm lies in being the kind of back-alley place of prayer you might stumble upon while strolling the Yanesen area (Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi).
Highlights
- ●A place-name origin echoed in the name Ohayashi, tied to a former wood or government forest
- ●The mood of a downtown guardian, quietly enshrined in a Yanesen back alley
- ●Inari-shrine features such as the symbolic vermilion and the fox as divine messenger
- ●An unpretentious place of prayer to drop by mid-stroll through Bunkyo
History
The name Ohayashi (meaning a wood or grove) is thought to derive from the fact that this area was once woodland or a managed government forest. Inari faith itself has Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto as its head shrine, and as a deity of abundant harvests and thriving trade, Inari was enshrined at countless spots throughout the city of Edo. As published records of this shrine's exact founding date and origins are limited, it is best to confirm an accurate history through the on-site history plaque or official information.
Access
The shrine stands in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo (roughly 35.73°N, 139.76°E). The nearest stations are Sendagi and Nezu on the Chiyoda subway line, and you reach it by walking the lanes of the Yanesen area. As it is a small shrine along a narrow street, check its location on a map beforehand and drop by while exploring the surroundings so you won't lose your way.
Best season
To enjoy it alongside a walk through Yanesen, the mild seasons of spring and autumn are especially recommended. The Hatsu-uma (first day of the horse in February) is regarded as a day deeply tied to Inari shrines everywhere, but whether this shrine holds any observance should be confirmed via official information. Visiting at dusk, together with the lantern-lit lanes, deepens the atmosphere unique to the old downtown.
Map
35.7251, 139.7577 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Start a Yanesen stroll from Sendagi or Nezu Station
- 2Walk the lanes to Ohayashi Inari Shrine for a quiet visit
- 3Extend to nearby sights such as Yanaka Ginza and Nezu Shrine
- 4Return to the station while sampling downtown food to round off the walk
Did you know?
💡 The vermilion often seen on the torii gates and halls of Inari shrines is said to symbolize vitality and warding off evil. The fox is regarded as the messenger of the Inari deity, and you may meet a fox statue within the grounds. For the finer points and manners of worship at Ohayashi Inari Shrine, it is reassuring to confirm through official information before visiting.
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