- Hakata Tetsudo Shrine: Fukuoka's Rooftop Sanctuary 60 Meters Above Hakata Station
- Perched 60 meters above Hakata Station, Hakata Tetsudo Shrine is a rooftop sanctuary in Fukuoka where travelers pray for safe journeys.
A Complete Guide to Railway Shrines Across Japan
Japan is home to approximately 80,000 shrines. Typically, these shrines bear names derived from place names or the deities enshrined within them.
Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto takes its name from the Fushimi district and the deity Inari. Yasaka Shrine is named after the Yasaka area, and Sumiyoshi Taisha honors the Sumiyoshi deities. Many shrine names also indicate the lineage of their enshrined gods, such as Hachiman, Inari, and Tenmangu.
Among these, Tetsudo Jinja (Railway Shrines) stand out as unique. The name derives neither from a place nor a deity. Shrines bearing the name of a modern form of transportation like railways are exceptionally rare in Japan.
Why did shrines named after railways come to exist? Behind them lies the history of railway development that supported modern Japan and the sentiments of those involved. This article explores the origins, history, and characteristics of railway shrines scattered throughout Japan.
Definition and Characteristics of Railway Shrines
Tetsudo Jinja is a collective term for shrines established in connection with railways. While there is no strict definition, these shrines generally share the following characteristics:
- Established and maintained by railway companies
- Enshrine railway workers who died in the line of duty
- Dedicated to praying for safe travels
- House railway-related objects as sacred items (vehicles, wheels, rails, etc.)
The oldest railway shrine in Japan is the JR East Railway Shrine, established in 1936 (then known as the National Railways Shrine). It was built on the rooftop of the Railway Ministry building in front of Tokyo Station, funded by employee donations.
Why Railway Shrines Were Built
Several reasons explain why railway shrines were established across Japan.
Memorial for Those Who Died in Service
The oldest purpose was to memorialize those who lost their lives in railway accidents or construction.
From the Meiji to Showa periods, railway construction was constantly fraught with danger. Many lives were lost in tunnel cave-ins and train operation accidents. The JR East Railway Shrine enshrines 9,981 souls of workers who died in service as of September 1942. At the Japan Railway Reisya adjacent to Kintetsu’s Japan Railway Shrine, over 53 victims of the Ikoma Tunnel construction disaster are enshrined.
Prayers for Safe Travel
Some railway shrines were built to pray for the safety of travelers.
This includes shrines on the rooftops of station buildings in Hakata and Oita. They received divided spirits from prestigious local shrines and are beloved as places to pray for safe journeys.
Preservation and Tourism of Industrial Heritage
In recent years, railway shrines have also emerged with the purpose of preserving and utilizing retired railway vehicles.
Given the reality that railway companies find it difficult to spend significant funds maintaining retired vehicles regardless of their historical value, establishing them as shrines ensures ongoing maintenance funding while serving as tourism resources—a new form of industrial heritage preservation.
Inheriting Station and Regional Symbols
As railways developed, some examples emerged of inheriting station or regional symbols as shrines.
A representative case involves building a shrine using timber from a symbolic tree at a station that was slated for removal due to construction. These shrines preserve regional memories for future generations.
Railway Shrines Across Japan
Various railway shrines exist throughout Japan. Here are notable shrines organized by region.
Kanto Region
The Kanto region is home to historically and characteristically notable railway shrines, including Japan’s oldest railway shrine and the world’s first shrine with a railway vehicle as its sacred object.
JR East Railway Shrine (Kita Ward, Tokyo)
Established in 1936. This is Japan’s oldest railway shrine.
It was built on the rooftop of the Railway Ministry building in front of Tokyo Station (later the former JNR headquarters, now the location of Marunouchi Oazo), funded by employee donations. Though temporarily removed by GHQ after World War II, it was later reconstructed. After the privatization of JNR, the shrine was relocated to the JR East Tokyo Branch premises in Higashi-Tabata, Kita Ward (about 4 minutes walk from Tabata Station) when the building was demolished.
Railway workers who died in service are enshrined as deities, and a ceremony is held every April 15 to enshrine those who passed away during the previous year. The shrine is privately owned and not open to the public, though the torii gate and main hall can be glimpsed from a nearby pedestrian bridge.
Hitachinaka Kaiun Railway Shrine (Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki)
Founded in June 2021. This is the world’s first shrine with a railway vehicle as its sacred object.
Located within Ajigaura Station on the Hitachinaka Seaside Railway. It features a unique layout where Nakaminato Station serves as the worship hall, Ajigaura Station as the main hall, and the tracks between them form the approach path. A torii gate made of rails was also erected in July of the same year.
The sacred object is the KiHa 222 diesel railcar manufactured in 1962. Having achieved the longest service life among vehicles nationwide while maintaining a perfect safety record, it is said to bestow blessings of longevity, safety, matchmaking, and good fortune in competition. Visitors can receive talismans for 1,000 yen, protective charms for 700 yen, and shrine stamps for 400 yen.
Chubu Region
Railway shrines dot the stations serving as gateways to highland and mountain resorts, primarily in Nagano Prefecture.
Railway Highest Point Shrine (Minamimaki Village, Nagano)
Located near the highest point on JR Group railways at 1,375 meters elevation, between Kiyosato and Nobeyama. This relatively new shrine was built to pray for travelers’ safety and regional prosperity.
The sacred object is a steam locomotive wheel that once operated on the Koumi Line. Because a pair of wheels are placed side by side as if leaning on each other, visitors come to pray for marital harmony and matchmaking. Additionally, since the number 1375 can be read as hitomina goukaku (everyone passes) in Japanese, it has become known as a spot for exam success prayers. The highland location with views of the Yatsugatake Mountains and fresh air adds to its appeal.
Shin-Shimashima Station Railway Shrine (Matsumoto City, Nagano)
Installed on February 17, 2022. A new shrine located within Shin-Shimashima Station on the Alpico Transportation line.
To commemorate its installation, an adult admission ticket designed in the shape of an ema (votive tablet) was also released. At this station serving as the gateway to Kamikochi and Norikura Highlands, visitors can pray for safe travels.
Kinki Region
The Kinki region has shrines established by multiple railway companies, including JR West and Kintetsu.
JR West Railway Shrine (Kita Ward, Osaka)
Founded in 1939. Located on the rooftop of the JR West headquarters building (13 floors above ground, 2 below).
Originally installed on the rooftop of the former Osaka Railway Bureau (Daitetsukyoku) building. On March 25, 1992, a relocation ceremony was held when the JR West headquarters was completed. Like the JR East Railway Shrine, it is not open to the public.
Japan Railway Shrine (Nara City, Nara)
Founded in 1927. Currently located within the Yamato Bunkakan museum.
Originally founded as Daiki Shrine on the rooftop of the Daiki Building at Uehommachi Station. Deities were invited from Ikukunitama Shrine, Ise Jingu, Atsuta Shrine, Oyamazumi Shrine, and Higashikotsu Shrine. The name was changed to Kankyu Shrine in 1941 and to the current Japan Railway Shrine in 1944. It was relocated to Ayameike Amusement Park in 1932, and after the park closed, moved to its current location in October 2004.
The adjacent Japan Railway Reisha enshrines over 53 construction workers who died in accidents, including victims of the 1913 Ikoma Tunnel cave-in, as well as company employees who have passed away since the company’s founding.
Kyushu Region
Notable shrines in this region include those built on station building rooftops, starting with the Hakata Railway Shrine that emerged with the opening of the Kyushu Shinkansen.
Hakata Railway Shrine
Founded in 2011. Located in the Tsubame-no-mori Hiroba on the rooftop of JR Hakata City.
Having received a divided spirit from Sumiyoshi Shrine in Hakata Ward, it has become popular as a shrine where visitors can pray for safe travels. Three torii gates—Star Gate, Fortune Gate, and Dream Gate—line the approach path, with the main hall at the end. This Railway Shrine Main Approach has become a new Hakata landmark as a path praying for railway development.
Its location on a station building rooftop makes it conveniently accessible for travelers using the Shinkansen or local trains.
Read more about Hakata Railway Shrine
Oita Railway Shrine
Founded in 1965. Located on the rooftop of JR Oita City.
Having received a divided spirit from Yusuhara Hachimangu, the ichinomiya (highest-ranked shrine) of Bungo Province, it was established as a shrine for praying for safe travel and career success. The enshrined deities are Emperor Chuai, Emperor Ojin, and Empress Jingu. The shrine continues to watch over station staff safety and passenger travel safety.
Tohoku Region
In the Tohoku region, railway shrines built by third-sector railways can be found.
Aizu Railway Shrine (Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima)
Founded on July 16, 2012. Built in front of Ashinomaki Onsen Station to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Aizu Railway.
Sacred objects from three shrines along the Aizu Line—Inari Shrine, Sumiyoshi Shrine, and Tadeugatake Shrine—are enshrined here to pray for safe railway operations, company prosperity, good health for employees and their families, and safe travels for passengers.
Shrine stamps and original stamp books are also available. The station is also famous for its cat stationmasters. Following the legacy of first-generation Bus and second-generation Love, third-generation Sakura now handles passenger farewells. With paw-print-motif votive tablets and beckoning cat figurines throughout the grounds, this unique space attracts fans of both railways and cats.
The Deep Connection Between Railways and Shrines
The existence of railway shrines symbolizes the deep relationship between railways and shrines in Japan.
Development of Pilgrimage Railways
After the Meiji Restoration, Japan rapidly advanced railway construction as a pillar of industrial promotion and national enrichment. From the mid-Meiji period onward, railways specifically built to transport pilgrims to famous shrines and temples began appearing in succession.
In 1872, when Japan’s first railway opened between Shimbashi and Yokohama, pilgrims could now visit Kawasaki Daishi from the intermediate Kawasaki stop. This is considered the first example linking railways with religious pilgrimage.
Subsequently, many private railways developed with pilgrim transportation as a core business, including Keisei Electric Railway to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and Kintetsu Railway to Ise Grand Shrine.
The Origins of Hatsumode and Railways
The now commonplace custom of Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year) is said to have actually spread through railway company advertising.
Before the Meiji period, visiting shrines on New Year’s Day was not a common practice. However, as railways developed, railway companies promoted hatsumode to increase ridership during the New Year period. Eventually, it became established as a nationwide custom.
This trend, which began with pilgrimages to Kawasaki Daishi, significantly transformed Japan’s New Year culture.
What Railway Shrines Convey
Naming a shrine after railways is exceptional by Japanese tradition. Yet these shrines embody the history of railways that supported modern Japan’s development and the sentiments of those involved.
Memorial for those who died in service, prayers for safe travel, preservation of industrial heritage. Railway shrines represent a new form of faith born from modernization, conveying the deep bond between the Japanese people and railways to this day.
When traveling across Japan, why not visit railway shrines in each region? There, you will find the railway history of that area and the stories of the people who supported it, still very much alive.
