Kabuto Jinja (Kabuto Shrine)

Kabuto Jinja (Kabuto Shrine) Review

This is a minor shrine, so if you have had your fill of shrine-viewing, this one can be overlooked. But like the Nihombashi itself, it is another bit of history lurking in the shadows of the expressway. Legend has it that a noble warrior of the 11th century, who had been sent by the Imperial Court in Kyoto to subdue the barbarians of the north, stopped here and prayed for assistance. His expedition was successful, and on the way back he buried a kabuto, a golden helmet, on this spot as an offering of thanks. Few Japanese are aware of this legend, and the monument of choice in Kabuto-cho today is the nearby Tokyo Stock Exchange.