Hikawa Shrine (JDT Recommends)

In summer, the shrine’s famous Furin Kairo (Corridor of marriage wind chimes) appears along the east side of the main and front shrines. About 2,000 multicolored glass wind chimes are suspended in a 10-meter-long walkway, each with a small wooden tag where visitors write wishes for love and happiness. In Japanese belief, the wind is said to carry people’s feelings; the soft, clear sound of the chimes suggests those wishes are being delivered to the deities. This vibrant, photogenic corridor has become one of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine’s most iconic sights and a highlight for summer visitors.

In June, just before the shrine is decorated with the summer enmusubi furin, the grounds are transformed with around 2,000 kazaguruma (pinwheels). For about a month, a tunnel covered with 888 blue and white pinwheels spins gently in the breeze, creating a dreamy walkway. In Japan, the number 888 is considered lucky, especially for matters of love and fortune, making this installation a meaningful and visually striking prelude to the wind chime season.

Every day, the first 20 visitors to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine may receive an adorable free “marriage ball” omamori (lucky charm). It is said that carrying this charm invites good fortune in finding a partner. When you eventually meet your soulmate, tradition suggests that you both return to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine together and bring the charm back. In exchange, you receive a special omamori that is believed to bless you with a long, steady, and harmonious relationship—a romantic ritual that reinforces the shrine’s role as a matchmaking destination.

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine also offers a unique style of omikuji (paper fortunes) called “Tai-Mikuji”, or red snapper fortunes. Instead of drawing a slip of paper from a box, you “fish” for a small red snapper charm using a rod, then find your fortune tucked into the fish’s tail. Unlike standard omikuji, which are usually tied to a rack on the shrine grounds, Tai-Mikuji are meant to be kept with you as a charm for good relationships and future encounters.

Another popular item at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is the red pencil (akai enpitsu), which symbolizes the legendary “red string of fate” that is said to invisibly connect destined partners. As you use the pencil over time and it becomes shorter, it is believed that you are drawing closer to the person you are meant to be with. This small, thoughtful charm is a meaningful keepsake for anyone hoping for a special encounter or a deepening relationship.