Haneda shrine
Haneda shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Ota ward in a close distance to Haneda Airport. As such, it is regarded with respect by airline companies and their workers. When there are summer festivals, cabin crew members from JAL (Japan Airlines) and ANA (All Nippon Airways) participate as volunteers. Additionally, after ANA’s morning flights on January 1st, it is an annual event for people associated with the company president to come to the shrine with New Year prayers. You can see how deeply it is revered by the airline companies. [1]
It is also frequently visited by travelers, who come to pray for a safe flight. When you come to visit, you may see a lot of ema--the small wooden boards for prayers--with images related to air traffic. Travelers may also buy several charms for flight safety which are unique for this shrine.
As the shrine is much older than the airport (It dates back to Kamakura era about 800 years ago), air traffic safety is not the only wish of worshippers, who came here in the past as well as who come these days. Many people have worshipped for a long time at Haneda Jinja, hoping to recover from illness. This tradition was started by the shogun TOKUGAWA Iesada, whose deep worship of the Kami was believed to have cured the prevalent illness smallpox in the first year of Bunkyu, in the Edo era (A.D. 1861). In addition, the couple composed of a male kami, Susanoo no mikoto, and a female kami, Inada hime no mikoto, have been deified at Haneda Jinja, and regular visitors pray for divine luck in conducting matchmaking or marriages. [2]
The Enshrined Kami:
- Susanoo no mikoto
- Inada hime no mikoto
Main Divine virtue :
- Guardian of the Region
- Safety of Your Family
- Air Traffic Safety Transport Safety
- Recovery of Illness
- Fulfillment in Love
In the rear of the main hall, a small five-meter mountain known as Haneda Fuji mimics Japan’s largest peak. The small mound, built at the outset of the Meiji Period using volcanic rocks from Mt Fuji itself, was created to give pilgrims the opportunity to “scale” the famous mountain without actually venturing to Yamanashi Prefecture. [3]
Cache
The cache is not hidden in the premises of the shrine itself (see reference point to get to the shrine), but it is located a bit away.
Please, bring your own pen.
Sources
[1] Haneda Shrine, Protecting Haneda Airport: Shrine of the Month, Japan Hoppers, link: [https://www.japanhoppers.com/en/features/temples_shrines/401/]
[2] About Haneda Shrine, English web page by 羽田神社, link: [https://www.hanedajinja.com/english/index.htm]
[3] Haneda-jinja Shrine, Shinto shrine a short distance from Haneda Airport, JapanTravel, link: [https://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/haneda-jinja-shrine/42499]