Shitaya Shrine Torii Gates
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Large Torii Gate Nestled Within the Urbanscape
下谷神社の大鳥居:町内の景観に溶け込む歴史の象徴
The large vermilion torii gate is one of two such gates marking the entrance to Shitaya-jinja—a local Shinto shrine with origins tracing back to the year 730, making it one of the oldest inari shrines in Tokyo. This rich historical legacy stands in stark contrast to the surrounding urban environment.
Today, two buildings, each over six stories high, occupy the street corners near the torii gate. The gate has likely stood here since the shrine's reconstruction in 1934, following its destruction in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.
The building on the western side of the torii is astonishingly close to the tip of the top lintel (the horizontal beam). My immediate thought was: how has the building avoided damaging the gate during Tokyo's frequent earthquakes?
The vermilion gate may appear slightly out of place amid the modern urbanscape, yet this juxtaposition feels quintessentially Tokyo—a city where centuries-old traditions coexist seamlessly with cutting-edge infrastructure.
Location: Shitaya Shrine, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:23・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 1000 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/9
Provia/Standard film simulation
Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:
・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses
・Explore gifts and merchandise
Shinto Shrine Nestled Within the Urbanscape
下谷神社:町内の景観に溶け込む歴史の象徴
Shitaya-jinja—a local Shinto shrine with origins tracing back to the year 730, is one of the oldest inari shrines in Tokyo. This rich historical legacy stands in stark contrast to the surrounding urban environment.
Location: Shitaya Shrine, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:32・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/10
classic Chrome film simulation