TokyoLeisure

Sarue Shrine (猿江神社)

Flow of the course

About 40 min here

About 20 min to the next stop

Next stop: Drum bridges and Shinji Pond. A loop of the grounds while hunting for turtles

About this spot

Located in Sumiyoshi, Koto City, this shrine has long been cherished as the local guardian deity. It preserves the legend behind the place name Sarue, which makes it a fitting entry point for tracing the history of this old downtown district. The grounds are compact, and the time from passing through the torii gate to joining your hands in prayer is short, which is honestly a blessing since you can finish the visit before children get bored. The main hall has been rebuilt in reinforced concrete, but the atmosphere of a place watched over by its community is unchanged. Sarue Onshi Park is a short walk away, making this just the right stop to begin the day.

Tips

It sits in a residential neighborhood, so watch out for cars on the way to the approach. The hours when the shrine office is staffed may be limited. The grounds are small, so agreeing in advance not to run around will put you at ease. Teaching children how to purify their hands at the purification fountain makes even a short visit memorable.