Kagurazaka: A Town of Temples or Shrines?
Kagurazaka: A Town of Temples or Shrines? Kagurazaka: Named after the Sounds of ‘Kagura’ Music from Nearby Shrines Kagurazaka Street was constructed by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun. The name “Kagurazaka” is said to originate from the sound of “Kagura” music heard from the various nearby shrines. “Kagura” is a type of ceremonial music and dance performed during Shinto rituals to worship deities. During the Edo period, Kagurazaka was characterized by samurai residences, temple fronts, and geisha districts. Is Kagurazaka a Town of Shrine Fronts? From its name, one might assume Kagurazaka is a town of shrine fronts. Indeed, there are many shrines in the area, including Tsukudo Hachiman Shrine (built between 809-823), Akagi Shrine (built in 1300), Kagurazaka Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine (built in 1189), and Tokyo Daijingu (built in 1880). During the Edo period (1603-1868), Akagi Shrine was designated as one of the great shrines of Edo by the Tokugawa shogunate and garnered significant local devotion as the protective deity of the Ushigome area. Is Kagurazaka a Town of Temple Fronts? However, Kagurazaka also has many temples. Koshoji Temple moved to the site of Ushigome Castle in 1645, Zenkoku-ji (also known as Bishamonten, moved from Kojimachi