Legends in Tokyo

Discover 9 places to experience unusual legends in Tokyo.

Heart.

Secret Cobblestones of Hide-and-Seek Alley

A few hidden stones are said to bring fortune and love.

The enshrined remains of the god.

Kankan Jizō

Although damaged beyond recognition, this stone god is still said to bring good luck to those who tap on him with a pebble.

The former Anamori Inari Shrine torii.

Haneda Ōtorii

A cursed torii gate still stands on the edge of Haneda Airport, decades after its shrine's relocation.

The grave of Taira no Masakado.

Taira no Masakado's Grave

A shrine dedicated to a 10th-century samurai emperor, whose head is not buried on site (contrary to popular belief).

The landing.

Obake Kaidan

A flight of this "ghost staircase" has 40 steps on the way up, but only 39 steps on the way down.

Locals sometimes give the kappa a cucumber, its favorite food.

Oiteke Bori

This water goblin statue represents a 19th-century urban legend about a haunted canal that became a Japanese idiom.

The shrine.

Inokashira Park Benzaiten Shrine

Legend says the goddess this shrine honors curses any couples that pass by.

Lucky cat figures at Gotokuji Temple

Gotokuji Temple

The legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko is dotted with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.

Sengaku-Ji

Sengaku-Ji

This Buddhist temple is home to the graves of the Japanese national legends, the 47 Ronin.

Are we missing something unusual in Tokyo?