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Located in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, this shrine exudes a unique charm that blends history and love.
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, with a proud history spanning 1,500 years, is known for its connection to matchmaking deities.
As Kawagoe’s most famous, vibrant, and popular shrine, Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine offers many fascinating attractions.
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, located in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, is a historic shrine said to have been established around 1,500 years ago during the Kofun period (A.D. 541). It has been cherished since the Edo period as the guardian shrine of the Kawagoe Domain and remains beloved by the local community. Known for its matchmaking deities, the shrine is famous for its blessings in love, family harmony, and marital happiness, serving as a spiritual home for those seeking to fulfill their romantic wishes.
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is renowned for its blessings in love and matchmaking. Rooted in the traditional Japanese belief of the “Red Thread of Fate,” it is said that from birth, a red thread connects one’s pinky finger to that of their destined partner.
Though invisible to the eye, this thread guides people through various encounters in life, eventually leading them to their fated partner. At this shrine, this concept is symbolized through amulets like the Enmusubi-tama and Yui-himo.
While cherishing the traditional Japanese view of love, Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine provides a “visible form” of this invisible red thread, making it easier for modern visitors to connect with the shrine’s blessings in matchmaking.
At the entrance of the shrine stands an impressively large wooden torii gate, the Grand Torii of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.
This torii gate is the largest in Japan, towering at about 15 meters high. Built in the Heisei era to commemorate a special occasion, it also holds a hidden historical significance. The inscription at the top of the gate was written by the famous late Edo-period figure Katsu Kaishu.
This majestic torii gate welcomes visitors and marks the entrance to this sacred place in a striking manner.
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is renowned for its matchmaking and marital harmony blessings. The shrine’s popular “Ai Tai-mikuji,” a fortune-telling ritual where you fish for love luck, draws many visitors.
Using a fishing line, you catch one of the many red sea bream (tai) from the pond.
Inside the sea bream is a fortune slip. The fortunes cover aspects of love such as “meeting,” “progress,” “compatibility,” “luck,” and “waiting,” making them popular among those looking for love or with someone special in mind.
In addition to the standard pink and red tai, new and limited edition colors like blue, purple, white, and green are introduced each year. These new colors are so popular that they quickly get fished out, so if you spot a new color, be sure to grab it right away.
The Ema Tunnel is a power spot at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. A tunnel formed by 30,000 ema (wooden plaques).
It has long been believed that the more wishes that gather, the stronger they become and the more likely they are to reach the gods. The wishes are also said to be carried by the wind. The sunlight filtering through the numerous ema and the gentle breeze that sways them help to carry these wishes to the gods. The tunnel formed by 30,000 ema is breathtaking and mystical.
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine has a spring water source and a small stream where you can perform the ritual of Hitogata Nagashi.
In this ritual, you transfer your mental and physical impurities (such as illness) onto a paper doll made of washi, which you then release into the water, purifying yourself.
You offer a 100 yen coin as a fee and let the washi paper doll float away. It’s recommended to prepare cash in advance since only cash is accepted.
You blow on the paper doll three times, rub it against your body, and chant “Purify, cleanse,” before placing it in the stream. Watch as the doll floats down the stream and passes under the shimenawa (sacred rope). The gods will purify the bad things in your body.
Hikawa Shrine is also famous for its beautiful summer scenery.
The “Enmusubi Wind Chimes” that adorn Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine in summer are a dreamy festival that brings a sense of refreshment and hope to visitors.
In the “Wind Chime Corridor” set up within the shrine, around 1,500 Edo-style wind chimes sway gracefully, creating delicate sounds. Each wind chime, meticulously crafted by artisans, has a unique expression and glimmers in the summer light.
Visitors can also tie wooden tanzaku (prayer strips) to the wind chimes with their wishes. The sound of the swaying tanzaku in the breeze carries these wishes to the gods.
At dusk, the wind chimes, softly illuminated, create a mysterious atmosphere. The symphony of cool sounds and light invites visitors to a serene time away from everyday life.
The Enmusubi Wind Chimes are a unique summer tradition of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, woven with traditional craftsmanship and prayers. Please enjoy a peaceful time here that can only be experienced at this shrine.
In summer, the stream where the Hitogata Nagashi ritual takes place is illuminated. The stream that flows through the grounds of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine creates a fantastic scene on summer nights.
This illumination, called the “Glowing River,” is a mystical event deeply tied to the shrine’s history.
According to the shrine’s founding legend from about 1,500 years ago in the Kofun period, a mysterious light appeared nightly at the bottom of the Iruma River, and following this light led to the shrine’s current location. In honor of this legend, a magical light is placed at the bottom of the stream within the shrine.
As night falls, the soft light emanating from the streambed seems like a mystical glow resurrected from ancient times. The ripples of light shimmering on the water’s surface quietly tell the story of old to those who visit.
Said to have been born from the “river” and “light,” Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine offers a special opportunity to reflect on its origins through this ethereal “Glowing River.” Experience this timeless mystical scene up close on a summer night.
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is not far from Kawagoe Station or Hon-Kawagoe Station, but it’s not within walking distance either. While it’s possible to stroll to the shrine as a final stop on your Koedo tour, the best way is to take the bus to Hikawa Shrine and then tour Koedo on your way back to the station.
For example, buses are available from Kawagoe Station on the JR or Tobu Tojo Line. You could walk from Kawagoe Station, rent a kimono or yukata, change into it, walk a few minutes to Hon-Kawagoe Station, and then take the bus from there. This plan is efficient and recommended.
Here is Hon-Kawagoe Station
To take the bus from Hon-Kawagoe Station to Hikawa Shrine, go to Platform 5.
Hon-Kawagoe Station has several bus stops, but the one next to the police box is Platform 5.
Then, take the orange Tobu Bus with the number “06” displayed on the electronic sign at the front. The bus route number 6 will take you to Hikawa Shrine.
Get off at the “Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine” stop.
Once you get off the bus, you’re right at Hikawa Shrine, so there’s no worry about getting lost.
It takes less than 10 minutes by bus from Hon-Kawagoe Station to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, making it much faster than walking (about 30 minutes on foot from Hon-Kawagoe Station and 40 minutes from Kawagoe Station).
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is so famous that tens of thousands of people visit it for their first shrine visit of the year, and it has a rich history.
Despite this, it also has modern beauty, which continues to win overwhelming support from women.
Kawagoe is home to many kimono and yukata rental shops, and it’s popular to change into a kimono or yukata before starting your sightseeing. As a result, many visitors come to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine in elegant traditional attire.
Of course, as a historic shrine, it also retains a solemn atmosphere. Despite its vibrant colors and beauty that make you want to take pictures, it also has a majestic, serene atmosphere.
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is as famous as saying “Hikawa Shrine” when referring to shrines in Kawagoe. When you visit Koedo, be sure to stop by.
