Suga Shrine

Suga Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in the peaceful Yotsuya neighborhood of Shinjuku, Tokyo. The shrine has served as a guardian of the local community since the early Edo period and is dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto and Ukanomitama-no-Mikoto. Surrounded by quiet residential streets, it offers a traditional atmosphere away from Shinjuku's busy commercial districts.
The shrine is particularly famous for the Otokozaka stone staircase beside its grounds. With its distinctive red handrails and view over the surrounding neighborhood, the staircase became internationally recognizable after appearing in the final scene of the Japanese animated film Your Name, released in 2016. Visitors often come to photograph the familiar composition from the movie.
Beyond its connection to popular animation, Suga Shrine preserves important cultural and religious traditions. One of its notable treasures is a collection of paintings depicting the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets, completed in 1836 and recognized as a cultural property of Shinjuku. The shrine also holds an annual festival in June, reflecting its long-standing relationship with the Yotsuya community.
Visitors can explore the shrine grounds, admire its traditional buildings, and purchase amulets or receive goshuin stamps during the designated counter hours. The surrounding neighborhood retains a calm atmosphere, making it an interesting place to discover another side of Tokyo. Suga Shrine combines local history, Japanese religious culture, and one of the city's most recognizable anime-related photography locations.