Nezu Shrine
Nezu Jinja (根津神社), a Shinto shrine located in central Tokyo, was founded in 110 CE according to legend.
This site still preserves a set of buildings built in 1706.
Shinto shrines in the middle of Tokyo which still maintain their complex built in the feudal times are quite rare - it means they survived the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and air raids in WWII - and of them this shrine is the largest.
The deities enshrined here are collectively known as Nezu Gongen, but as is often the case with many Shinto shrines, their characters themselves are kind of vague. Like this shrine, ordinary Shinto shrines are worshiped by people who live around them as the protective gods of their lands and communities, and festivals and rituals are held to strengthen people's emotional ties there.
It's a 5-min walk from Tokyo Metro Chiyda Line Nezu Station, and is not so far from Ueno or Yanaka.
The romon gate was erected in 1706. Two statues of guardian deities (Zuishin) are placed. It is desingated as an Important Cultural Property.
The karamon gate and sukibei walls were created in 1706. These are Important Cultural Properties.
The haiden, created in 1706, is where you offer prayers to divinities. It's an Important Cultural Property.
The honden, created in 1706, is where divinities are enshrined. It's an Important Cultural Property.
The honden and haiden are connected by a building called Heiden.
The kaguraden is where music and dances are performed in festivals.
It was probably created in the Meiji period (late 19th to early 20th century).
Azalea Festival
Nezu Jinja is renowned for its azalea flowers. At present there are some 3,000 azalea trees composed of 100 cultivars, and from mid-April to early May, the Tsutsuji-matsuri (Azalea Festival) is held every year.
For details about this event, see the article on the Tsutsuji-matsuri at Nezu Shrine.
Reitaisai
Usually, a Shinto shrine holds a Reitaisai (Grand Festival) - the most important ceremony of the shrine - once a year. The Reitaisai of Nezu Jinja is held in mid-Setember, but is fully conducted only once in every four years. In fully-conducted years, a large mikoshi parades through the area the shrine guards. (below photos were NOT one of those years).
