Naritasan Shinshoji Temple & Historic Omotesando Approach

Category: Historic Buddhist Temple & Culinary Heritage | Location: 1 Narita, Narita-shi, Chiba 286-0023 (JR Narita / Keisei-Narita Station)

Established in 940 AD by High Priest Kancho under imperial decree to quell the rebellion of samurai warlord Taira no Masakado, Naritasan Shinshoji stands as a premier head temple of the Shingon Buddhist sect. Enshrining the fierce yet compassionate deity Fudo Myoo (The Immovable Wisdom King), the complex welcomes over 10 million worshippers annually, consistently ranking second only to Meiji Jingu for New Year Hatsumode pilgrimages. Within the soaring Great Main Hall (Dai-Hondo), the sacred Ogoma fire ritual has been conducted continuously multiple times a day for over 1,080 years, symbolically burning away worldly defilements to fulfill worshippers’ prayers. The expansive precinct safeguards five nationally designated Important Cultural Properties, including an ornate 25-meter Three-Story Pagoda constructed in 1712 featuring gilded wooden rafters and dragon reliefs, backed by the 16.5-hectare traditional Naritasan Park. Approaching the sanctuary, the 800-meter Naritasan Omotesando street preserves the nostalgic atmosphere of an Edo-period merchant town. Lined with over 150 historic shops, the avenue is world-famous for its traditional charcoal-grilled Unagi (freshwater eel) restaurants—most notably Kawatoyo, founded in 1910, where master chefs expertly clean, skewer, and glaze live eels over white-hot binchotan coals right by the sidewalk. Conveniently situated just 10 minutes by train from Narita International Airport (NRT).