The most beloved and effective love shrine for Japanese people
There are many unique shrines in Tokyo, Japan, among which the most popular one for female tourists seeking marriage luck is the beckoning cat shrine. It is said that Asakusa, Tokyo is the birthplace of the beckoning cat, and there is a famous love shrine called “Imado Shrine” just a 15-minute walk from Sensoji Temple and Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa. It gathers love and beckoning cats, and you can come here to pray for marriage, love, and relationships. The amulets, omikuji, ema, and goshuin sold in Imado Shrine are also very cute. We recommend that single friends come to this highly effective Imado Shrine when traveling to Tokyo.
Must Read: 9 Best Things to Do in Asakusa to Help You Capture 100 Years of Tokyo within a Day
Information for visiting Imado Shrine
- Address: 1-5-22 Imado, Taito-ku, Tokyo
- Ticket: Free
- Opening Hours: 09:00~17:00
- Official Website
You can take the Tokyo Metro, Tobu Railway, or Toei Subway to Asakusa Station and then walk for about 15 minutes to reach Imado Shrine. As there are many attractions around Imado Shrine, you can take a rickshaw or enjoy a leisurely stroll along Sumida Park from Asakusa Temple and Asakusa Cultural Center. If you visit in spring, you can also enjoy a cherry blossom viewing while walking. After visiting Imado Shrine, you can continue your journey to the Tokyo Skytree.
Alternatively, you can take a bus from Kinshicho Station to “Honjo-Azumabashi”. The journey takes about 10 minutes. After getting off, walk towards “Sumida Park” and take a stroll to Imado Shrine, then explore the area around Sensoji Temple.
Attractions of Imado Shrine
The main deities enshrined in Jingu Shrine are Emperor Ojin, Izanagi-no-Mikoto, and Izanami-no-Mikoto. It is said that Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto were the first male and female deities to marry among the gods, and they settled in Japan and gave birth to many other deities. As a result, they are worshipped as symbols of marriage and matchmaking.
During a free and easy trip to Tokyo to see the cherry blossoms, when you come to Imado Shrine, you will be greeted by the beautiful scenery of cherry blossoms in full bloom and cherry blossom petals dancing in the air. Everywhere you look, there are cute and playful cat statues and ema plaques, which will surely awaken your romantic pink heart!
However, we arrived early, so not all the cherry blossoms had bloomed yet… we just took some photos of a few trees that were in bloom.
Amulet of Imado Shrine
In order to make proposals, seek relationships, and find marriage partners more smoothly, you can purchase amulets, fortune slips, and ema at Konohata Shrine. There are six colors of amulets, representing different fortunes, and the one shown above is the “twin beckoning cat (bonding cat)” style, which is quite eye-catching.
The 2020 TV drama “Love Lasts Forever” tells the love story between a sadistic male doctor played by Sato Takeru and a hardworking female nurse played by Ueno Juri. In the first episode, the female lead meets the male lead at Imado Shrine in Tokyo when she comes to study in the city.
Cute bond cats can be found everywhere in the shrine. Meow~
Altar Hall
The area where Imado Shrine is located is the birthplace of the Maneki-neko, or beckoning cat. In the 16th century, Imado-yaki pottery began to be produced, and in the late Edo period, the Maneki-neko Imado-yaki was created.
One of the three major Maneki-neko shrines in Tokyo: Gotokuji Temple: The birthplace of thousands of super cute Maneki-neko sitting in a row, waving their paws to bring good fortune!
The adorable Jintoh Shrine attracts many girls dressed in kimono who come to worship by rickshaw. If you want to take photos and check-in, you can also consider this kimono itinerary.
Rent a kimono and take beautiful photos: Asakusa Hana Kimono rental near Sensoji Temple “Wafuku Workshop Gawa Kimono Experience Hall”, Vintage professional rickshaw
You can see that the male cats inside the Imado Shrine have black spots, while the female cats are snow white. They both raise their right hands to symbolize attracting good relationships. Later, the Imado Shrine also introduced a unique “twin cats connected” called the “bonding cat (also known as the knotting cat)”. With more and more people visiting, the Imado Shrine gradually attracted more male and female believers and tourists from Japan and abroad with its super spiritual help in finding good relationships.
The inner hall is not accessible, but you can take photos around it. This stone cat statue has been introduced by major media. Don’t forget to set it as your phone’s background wallpaper after taking a photo. Pray to them every day and your wishes will come true!
Girls who like beckoning cats and want to seek good love and marriage luck, when you come to the vicinity of Asakusa, you may want to add Imado Shrine to your itinerary.
One-day Tour of Attractions around Asakusa
【Morning】Visit Sensoji Temple, Shop at Nakamise Shopping Street → 【Afternoon】Stroll in Ueno Park, Shop at Ameyoko → 【Evening】Walk along Sumida River Park → Enjoy the Night View from Skytree Tembo Deck → Shop at Tokyo Solamachi
The itinerary in Asakusa is often combined with a one-day trip to Ueno and Tokyo Skytree, which are very close by. The above is the recommended itinerary route that I suggest, which is smoother to walk. You can also refer to Tokyo Asakusa one-day trip itinerary route arrangement for detailed transportation connections and fun attractions.
- Ueno: Ueno Station & Okachimachi Shopping Guide
- Ameyoko: Ameyoko Market Guide: Food, Shopping & More
- Asakusa: Asakusa Walking Route: Sensoji Temple & Nakamise Street
- Skytree: Tokyo Skytree Guide: Views, Shopping & More
- Kappabashi: Kappabashi Kitchen Town: A Chef’s Paradise in Tokyo
Everything You Need to Know about Tokyo
Explore more of our adventures around Tokyo:
- Guide: A Comprehensive Tokyo Travel Guide
- Attractions: Best Places to Visit in Tokyo
- Food: Ultimate Tokyo Food Guide
- Hotel: Where to stay in Tokyo
- Tokyo Disneyland Planning Guide
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