Atago Jinja　(Shrine) 愛宕神社

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Climb the steps to success at this rustic shrine near Tokyo Tower

Success does not come easy—and be prepared to work for it during your visit to the rustic Atago Jinja Shrine, located near Tokyo Tower and the Toranomon business district. To get to the shrine, you will need to first climb up a steep flight of 86 stairs—dubbed the "stone steps to success."

The shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the shrine built in 1603 atop Atago Hill to protect the newly-minted capital of Edo (present day Tokyo) from fire and disasters. The ritual today has its roots from a young nameless samurai who dared to ride his horse up the hill and take some branches from the blooming plum trees at the top. He offered the branches to the Shogun, winning much praise and admiration as a skilled rider. The stairs are the focus of a ritual carried out in a festival every other year in which a palanquin is carried up and down the stone steps as a symbol of success in life.