Located at the entrance of places of worship, these lion and dog statues are emblematic of the Japanese landscape. They are found not only in Buddhist temples but also in some Shinto shrines to protect the deity that welcomes them. Their mission is to ward off evil spirits and thus preserve the tranquility of the place they protect.
Kanda Shrine (神田明神, Kanda-myōjin, officially 神田神社 Kanda-jinja), is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The shrine dates back 1,270 years, but the current structure was rebuilt several times due to fire and earthquakes. It is situated in one of the most expensive estate areas of Tokyo. Kanda Shrine was an important shrine to both the warrior class and citizens of Japan, especially during the Edo period, when shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu paid his respects at Kanda Shrine. Due in part to the proximity of the Kanda Shrine to Akihabara, the shrine has become a mecca for technophiles who frequent Akihabara.
Kanda Shrine was first built in the second year of the Tenpyō Era (730 AD), in the fishing village of Shibasaki, near the modern Ōtemachi district. In order to accommodate the expansion of Edo Castle, the shrine was later moved to the former Kanda ward in 1603, then moved once again to its modern site on a small hill near Akihabara in 1616. The shrine has been rebuilt and restored many times. The current structure was destroyed in the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake and rebuilt in 1934 with concrete, and thus survived the Tokyo firebombing of World War II, unlike many of Japan's historical structures. Restoration is being done on Kanda Shrine, and work continues today.
Pray for prosperity, good luck and marriage at the Kanda Myojin Shrine, where three major gods, or kami, are enshrined. They include two of the seven Gods of Fortune: Daikokuten, who presides over bountiful harvests and matrimony; and Ebisu, the god of fisheries and business. The third is the Taira no Masakado, a rebel against the Hei'an government (794–1185) whom later earned revered status. The shrine is the head of 108 Tokyo districts including Akihabara and Tsukiji.
In May every odd-numbered year, partake in the festivities of the boisterous Kanda Matsuri that is widely regarded as one of Japan's three greatest festivals. The parade kicks off and ends at the shrine, passing through central Tokyo districts like Nihombashi and Otemachi.
