Miyamasumitake Shrine is a treasure in the Shibuya jungle

Tokyo has many hidden treasures. You can walk along a street of modern buildings, and between them will be an old temple or shrine. It can be surprising when it happens, but it’s not unusual. One such example is in Shibuya.

That one is called Miyamasumitake Shrine. It is not far from the JR station. Walk up nearby Miyamasuzaka (“Miyamasu Hill”), and you’ll find it.

It is easy to miss, though. The entrance is squeezed between big buildings. You could miss it entirely if you don’t look around while walking. It’s possible to keep going up the hill and pass it by entirely. Many people do that.

I used to teach in Shibuya. When I talked about this Miyamasumitake Shrine to my students, some had no idea it existed. And that was even with my school only a couple of minutes walk away.

But, if you find your way to it and make your way up a long and reasonably steep set of stairs, you’ll be at the entrance. There isn’t much to see, as the surrounding area is showing its age. Luckily, some areas of Miyamasuzaka are undergoing redevelopment.

The shrine is well-kept but tiny. It has a rock garden, so stick to the path! What I love about it is looking up and seeing the surrounding buildings dwarf it on three sides. Turn around and you’ll see Shibuya Hikarie soaring into the sky.

It’s nice to know that these small, beautiful shrines still exist in Japan. They contrast the old and the new. It’s a small shrine against the large urban buildings. They are oases of secluded tranquility in the busy city.

Where is Miyamasumitake Shrine?
Address: 1-12-2 Shibuya, Tokyo
It’s about a five-minute walk from Shibuya Station. Here is a Google map:
Opening hours
10 AM to 10 AM

Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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External related websites:
- Miyamasumitake Shrine (official website)