Written by Jane Pipkin
Established in 1590, Kawagoe Kumano Shrine is believed to bring good luck to visitors, ward off evil spirits, and help in finding love.
The shrine’s main symbol is a Yatagarasu, a three-legged crow known for being a divine spiritual guide. You’ll see motifs of the Yatagarasu scattered throughout the shrine — on specially shaped omikuji (fortunes), ema (wooden plaques), and statues.
The shrine also features a unique pebblestone walkway at the entrance, where visitors can walk barefoot. These are thought to stimulate acupuncture points on the feet (and so it is believed may offer potential health benefits).
How to get there
From Kawagoe Station, it takes 5 minutes on the Kawagoe-01 bus heading towards Shinmeicho. Get off at Renkeiji Temple and the shrine is right near there. This journey costs ¥210.
- 461 m from Hon-Kawagoe Station Seibu Shinjuku Line (SS29)
- 0.8 km from Kawagoeshi Station Tōbu Tōjō Line (TJ22)
