Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple

Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple in Narita, Chiba Prefecture is one of Japan’s most visited temples, drawing approximately 10 million people each year, especially during the New Year’s celebrations. Dedicated to Fudo Myo-o, the guardian deity of fire and discipline, it has been a major center of faith since its founding in the 10th century. Visitors come to pray for protection, good fortune, and personal wishes, while daily goma-gyō (a Buddhist fire ritual in which special wooden sticks, or gomagi, are burned to offer prayers) have continued uninterrupted for centuries.
The temple is also closely connected to Kabuki. Ichikawa Danjuro I, one of Edo’s greatest actors, prayed here for a successor and was blessed with a son. In gratitude, he incorporated Fudo Myo-o into his performances and adopted the stage name “Naritaya,” linking Kabuki forever with Naritasan. This bond helped spread the temple’s fame across Edo and beyond.
Within the vast grounds, visitors can admire nationally designated cultural treasures such as the richly decorated Komyo-do Hall, the elegant three-story pagoda, and the impressive Niomon Gate. The temple also offers hands-on experiences like sutra copying. Along the atmospheric approach street leading to the temple, you can even taste the area’s famous eel dishes, a culinary tradition dating back to the Edo period.