Specialist shrines in Tokyo

You’ll have to climb some seriously steep steps to get a chance at luck here. Eighty-six stone steps with a vertigo-inducing incline lead up to Atago Jinja, which is perched on namesake Mount Atago, the highest natural point within Tokyo’s 23 wards. The staircase is known as the ‘Shusse no Ishidan’ (‘Staircase to Promotion’): climb it and pray at the shrine, and your wishes of getting that raise may just come true. If a dude on horseback could do it to impress his samurai boss (as legend has it), you’ve got no excuses.

Usually you’d go to a shrine or temple to pray for luck in love. This little temple, however, is a bit unusual as it not only offers rather stylish votive tablets (ema) for marriage, but also for divorce – or rather, those wishing for an amicable divorce. It’s also said to be a good place if you’re looking to get rid of any stalkers (although the police station is probably a better bet).

This one is very popular with those needing a little extra push to get those all-important grades. That’s right, Yushima Tenjin is known for helping out in the academic department. Its omamori are very cute: they’re pocket-sized versions of randoseru, the schoolbags that elementary school kids in Japan are required to carry.

Hidden away near the post office on the first floor of Haneda Airport’s Terminal 1 is this tiny shrine, dedicated to advancing the aviation industry and safe flying in general. Pop by before your flight if you need the extra confidence. If you have the time, you can also go to Haneda Shrine (3-9-12 Honhaneda, Ota), three train stops away from the airport, where they sell flight safety omamori shaped like planes.

Known for hosting the Kanda Matsuri, one of Tokyo’s largest traditional festivals, Kanda Myojin (better known as Kanda Shrine) was established nearly 1,300 years ago. That doesn’t stop it from offering some seriously modern charms though: besides the general safety, health and love omamori (amulets) on offer, you can also buy the data protection omamori here. What? Yes, it’s a way of keeping your phone or computer virus-free and safe. Charms for internet health, so to speak.

The shrine with a serious mission and some seriously cool statues; vendors and fishermen at Tsukiji come here to pray for a good catch. ‘Namiyoke’ means ‘to repel waves’ – so it’s also for a safe passage. Besides that, there are several stones inscribed with specific characters inside the premises, including ones labelled 卵 (tamago, egg), 海老 (ebi, shrimp) and 昆布 (kombu, seaweed), all gifted by their respective trade unions.