Photo by Samuel Berner on Unsplash
Every January, while most visitors are queuing for hatsumode at Meiji Jingu or Senso-ji, a quieter and arguably more rewarding New Year tradition unfolds across Tokyo’s old neighborhoods: the Shichifukujin Meguri, or pilgrimage to the Seven Lucky Gods. It’s a self-guided walk connecting small temples and shrines, each dedicated to one of the seven deities believed to bring different kinds of good fortune. You don’t need a guide, a reservation, or fluent Japanese — just comfortable shoes, some coins, and a morning or afternoon free.
Who Are the Seven Lucky Gods?
The Shichifukujin are a set of deities — a mix of Japanese Shinto figures, Buddhist imports, and Chinese Taoist gods — that merchants in the Edo period (1603–1868) grouped together as patrons of luck, wealth, and wellbeing. They are: Ebisu (fishing and commerce), Daikokuten (wealth and the harvest, usually shown with a sack and mallet), Bishamonten (warriors and authority), Benzaiten (the only female deity, patron of music and the arts), Fukurokuju (longevity and wisdom, with his famously elongated head), Jurojin (also longevity, often confused with Fukurokuju), and Hotei (the laughing, pot-bellied “fat Buddha” of abundance and contentment). Visiting all seven in one circuit is meant to collect their combined blessings for the coming year.
The Main Tokyo Routes
There isn’t one official route — different neighborhoods have run their own circuits for centuries, and several are still active:
- Yanaka Shichifukujin — widely considered the oldest course in Japan (dating to the late 1700s) and the best for first-timers. It runs roughly 5.5km through Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi — atmospheric old Tokyo neighborhoods that survived the 1923 earthquake and WWII firebombing. Start near JR Tabata Station and finish close to Nezu or Sendagi Station on the Chiyoda Line. Budget 2–3 hours walking at a relaxed pace, with time to browse Yanaka Ginza’s shops along the way.
- Asakusa Shichifukujin — actually nine stops (some gods are duplicated across sites), including Senso-ji and Asakusa Jinja. Its main advantage: stamps here are typically available year-round, not just during the New Year window, so it’s an option if you’re visiting Tokyo outside early January.
- Sumida (Mukojima) Shichifukujin — on the river’s east bank near Asakusa, taking in shrines like Mimeguri Jinja and Shirahige Jinja. Quieter and more residential, with pleasant walking along the Sumida River.
- Nihonbashi Shichifukujin — tiny shrines wedged between office towers in Tokyo’s financial district, popular with suit-wearing locals ticking it off during a long lunch break in the first week of January.
When to Go
Traditionally, the pilgrimage is done during matsu no uchi — the first seven to fifteen days of January — and most routes only sell their special stamps (goshuin) during this window, often January 1 through 7, sometimes extending to January 10 or 15 depending on the shrine. Outside that period, the temples and shrines themselves are usually open as normal, but you may not be able to get the dated New Year stamp. January 2–3 tends to be busiest at the famous stops; weekday mornings from January 4 onward are noticeably calmer. Because so much of Japan is closed for Shogatsu in the days around New Year, it’s worth reading why Japan shuts down for New Year before you plan the rest of your trip around this — restaurants and shops near these routes may have shortened hours even if the shrines are open.
How It Actually Works
At the start of most routes you can buy a shikishi — a stiff, decorative board printed with outlines of the seven gods — usually for around ¥1,000–1,500 at the first temple or shrine. At each of the seven (or nine) stops, a priest or staff member stamps and sometimes hand-writes calligraphy onto the corresponding god’s panel, usually for ¥300–500 per stamp. Bring small bills and coins; card payment is rare at these stalls. Finished boards make genuinely nice souvenirs — framed, they’re a far more personal keepsake than most shop-bought items, and the custom calligraphy means no two are identical. If you’re also hunting for distinctive, only-in-Japan souvenirs on the same trip, it’s worth comparing this to how regional exclusives work, the way Pokemon Center Japan limits certain designs to specific stores — the Shichifukujin stamps are similarly tied to a specific place and date, not something you can pick up later.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming every route follows the same dates. Each neighborhood association sets its own stamp-collection window; check the specific route’s dates before you go, since showing up on January 12 might mean a lovely walk but no stamps.
- Not carrying cash. Stamp fees are small but cash-only, and nearby convenience stores can get crowded during the New Year period.
- Underestimating distances between temples. Routes advertise total walking distance, but gaps between individual stops can be 500m–1km on quiet residential streets with few signs in English. Download the route map (most ward tourism sites publish a PDF) before you set out, since phone signal and shop staff availability can be inconsistent in these older neighborhoods.
- Confusing this with hatsumode. Shichifukujin Meguri shrines are usually small and uncrowded compared to major hatsumode destinations — don’t expect the festival atmosphere of Meiji Jingu, and don’t skip it assuming it’ll be as packed.
- Losing track of train connections between neighborhoods. If you’re combining two routes (say, Yanaka in the morning and Asakusa in the afternoon), you’ll be tapping in and out of several stations. If your IC card ever refuses to open a gate mid-pilgrimage, here’s what to do when your IC card or ticket won’t open a Japanese train gate rather than losing time at the station office.
Budget, Mid-Range, and Splurge Options
Budget: Skip the shikishi and stamps entirely and just walk the route as a free neighborhood tour — Yanaka in particular is worth doing purely for the architecture and shops, no spending required beyond transport and snacks.
Mid-range: Buy the shikishi board and collect all seven (or nine) stamps — typically ¥3,000–5,000 total for board plus stamps, which also gets you into small temple grounds you’d otherwise walk straight past.
Splurge: If you’d rather not navigate on your own, some sightseeing bus operators run seasonal New Year routes through old Tokyo districts; it’s worth checking whether Hato Bus or Sky Bus Tokyo is offering anything similar for the season you’re visiting, or hire a licensed local guide for a half-day — useful if you’re traveling with family members who can’t manage a few hours of walking. For visitors arriving as part of a larger family or friend group, it’s also worth checking the discounts covered in our guide to traveling to Japan as a large group, since combining the pilgrimage with other New Year sightseeing can qualify for group rates on trains and bookings.
However you approach it, the Shichifukujin Meguri rewards slow travel: there’s no rush, no line to beat, and no app to check in on. It’s one of the few Tokyo experiences in early January that gets better, not worse, the fewer people know about it.