Asakusa Shrine is right next to Senso-ji Temple. When many people visit Asakusa, it's easy to focus entirely on Senso-ji and overlook this shrine. In fact, the very famous Sanja Matsuri held every May is Asakusa Shrine's annual grand festival and one of the liveliest events of the year in all of Asakusa.
I happened to visit during the Sanja Matsuri this time. Although I didn't specifically try to catch the major highlights, such as the mikoshi leaving and returning to the shrine, the shrine grounds alone were already very lively. I also saw many local residents in festival clothing and various related activities. When the mikoshi aren't being carried through the streets, they are kept on the shrine grounds for worshippers to visit.
It was only after taking a closer look around the shrine this time that I realized the famous fox amulet, the “Kitsune Mamori,” which I had seen before, is actually offered by Hikan Inari Shrine, a subordinate shrine on the grounds of Asakusa Shrine. Hikan Inari Shrine is located toward the back of the grounds and enshrines Ukanomitama-no-Kami as its main deity. There are many stone fox statues nearby, creating a very different atmosphere from the lively main sanctuary of Asakusa Shrine in front. If you already like foxes or Inari worship, I highly recommend walking a little farther to the back of Asakusa Shrine when visiting Senso-ji Temple.
