🌊 Yoriki Shrine – Guardian of the Fisherfolk
Origins of Yoriki Shrine
Yoriki Shrine stands in Higashi-Shinagawa 1-chome, an area that was once a small island called Kabutojima. This island formed where the Meguro River met the sea. Over time, it became a settlement and spiritual hub for local fishing communities.
⛩️ Myth and the Sea
According to the ancient chronicles of the Kojiki, the shrine’s origins are tied to a tragic sea legend. Yamato Takeru (日本武尊), a legendary warrior prince, attempted to cross Tokyo Bay from the Miura Peninsula to the Boso Peninsula. As a storm threatened his ship, his wife, Ototachibana-hime (弟橘姫命), threw herself into the sea to calm the angry waters. The storm subsided, but her sacrifice left behind fragments of wrecked vessels. One piece of her clothing is said to have washed ashore in Shinagawa-ura, where it was enshrined, giving birth to Yoriki Shrine.
⚔️ Helmets and Heroes
The name Kabutojima (“Helmet Island”) comes from a later tale involving Minamoto no Yoshiie (源義家). Around 1062, during a campaign in the Tōhoku region, he stopped at the shrine and prayed for victory. After his successful expedition, he returned and offered his war helmet (kabuto) in gratitude, inspiring the island’s name.
By the Edo period, the area was known as Ryoshimachi (“Fisherfolk Town”). In 1655, fishermen from the Korean Peninsula were relocated here after refusing to host a Korean envoy. They brought Yoriki Shrine with them from Minamishinagawa-juku to its present location, ensuring their community’s protector deity remained close.
🪷 What to See at Yoriki Shrine
This modest shrine is filled with surprising and rare features that hint at its rich legacy.
- Main Hall Door (本殿の扉): The shrine’s main hall features a Kote-e (relief plaster artwork) titled “Ame no Uzume no Mikoto Kouseki-zu.” Created by master craftsman Irie Nagahachi of Izu, it’s a vibrant and culturally important piece. One panel shows Amaterasu Omikami and Ame no Uzume no Mikoto; the other shows Sarutahiko no Mikoto.
- Kappa Komainu (河童狛犬): These unusual guardian lion-dogs have shallow dishes carved into their heads. In the Edo period, candles were placed there and lit at night, serving as makeshift lighthouses for nearby boats.
- Fishing Origin Monument (江戸漁業発祥之碑): At the entrance stands a stone marker commemorating Ryoshimachi as the birthplace of Edo-period fishing culture in the region.
- Enshrined Deities (祭神): The shrine honors Yamato Takeru and also holds deep reverence for Ototachibana-hime. Together, they symbolize bravery and sacrifice at sea, fitting for a guardian of fisherfolk.
Footnotes:
🕊️️️ Shrine Details
- Deity: Yamato Takeru, Ototachibana-hime
- Affiliation: Ebara Shrine (荏原神社)
- Founded: Keicho era (1598–1614)
- Annual Events: January 14 & May 14
- Features: Kote-e artwork, Kappa guardian dogs, Edo Fishing Monument
🗺️ Visitor Information
Address: 1-35-8 Higashishinagawa, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 140-0002, Japan
Nearest station(s): Shimbamba (Keikyū Line)
Best season: Early spring to autumn
Admission: Free
Official Info: None
Please be respectful when visiting. This is an active religious site and a place of quiet reflection.
Where is it?
| what3words | ///tides.successor.velocity |
| latitude longitude | 35.6181148 139.743102 |
| Nearest station(s) | Shimbamba (Keikyu line) |
| Nearest public conveniences | Shizuka Park opposite the shrine entrance |
Show me a sign.
Clear and new. It’s hard to believe it’s the original shrine.
Withervee says…
Quite a small shrine on a small road. The shrine was originally located near Minami-Shinagawa 3-chome. It was a fishing village and stood within the property of a man named Yosobei (与惣兵衛). Later, when Yosobei moved to its current location, it was moved there.
Some toilets in the nearby recreation ground.
Site Character
- Lifestyle 生活 (Seikatsu): ✔️
- Historical Significance 歴史 (Rekishi): ✔️
- Atmosphere/Natural Features 風土 (Fūdo): ✔️
Who in their right mind would vote for this?
- Local Shinto devotees
- Folklore enthusiasts
- Maritime history buffs
- Craft and architecture lovers
- Neighborhood walkers
