Overview

With its almost retro vibe, Kita City Ward is full of space and creative character. The area's temples and shrines share in that character with many locations host to some fascinating points of cultural heritage. Here is an introduction to some of the temples and shrines of Kita and how to reach them.

Ukima Hikawa Shrine

With a couple of bull-chested komainu guardians standing watch over it, Ukima Hikawa Shrine presents itself well. A strikingly handsome structure, the shrine's clean lines and gentle colouring belie its reality as a local neighbourhood shrine and its heritage as the shrine for the area's former Ukima Village.

A 6-minute walk from Ukimafunado Station on the JR Saikyo Line.

Oji Inari Shrine

Visit Oji Inari Shrine on New Year's Eve and you'll come across a parade that has been taking place since the early 1990s. Participants, in respect to the enshrined fox deity, wear fox masks and carry lanterns as they walk the streets during the evening. The shrine itself, with its attendant fox statues and vibrant colouring, is itself worth a visit too.

A 6-minute walk from Oji Station on either the Namboku or JR Keihin-Tohoku Lines.

Oji Shrine

Celebrating one of the nation's most famous traditional dances is Oji Shrine. Almost as old as its nationally registered 600-year old gingko tree, the shrine hosts the dengaku rice planting dance in August. The shrine itself and its local surrounds are also imbued with an intricate landscaping and design that gives off a traditional ambience.

A 3-minute walk from Oji Station on either the Namboku or the JR Keihin-Tohoku Lines.

Seikoji Temple

Well maintained grounds, numerous statues and a relatively lengthy history are the main features of Seikoji Temple. With its simple but elegant and robust design, the original temple was built centuries ago with links to the Minamoto no Yoritomo, first shogun of the Kamkura shogunate in the 12th century.

A 9-minute walk from Oji-kamiya Station on the Namboku Line.