The official approach to the local shrine

In our neighborhood stands a "black gate" and a signpost. I've walk passed it many times, but I finally took a look at it closely and found that the signpost was from 1745. It was donated by rich merchants and popular Kabuki actors of that time to mark the entrance to the shrine (Inokashira Benzaiten) for the spring and the small lake in Inokashira Park which was an important source of drinking and utility water for the people of Edo, the capital of Shogun's government (the city is now called Tokyo).

The area is now packed with houses, but when the signpost was built, it was in the middle of a forest. This area was considered quite remote from Edo, but people used to jouney here to pay respect to the sacred spring. The recently erected explanation board next to the signpost says that there were others like this one along the way to here from Edo to guide the travellers.


Above, the stone signpost now stands in front of a coin laundry.
The signposts has names of then famous actors etched at the base stone.
This is what the approach looks like towards the shrine.
The statue of "Ugajin", a god of agriculture / grain - looks like a white snake with a head of an old man.
Here's the last bridge to the shrine.

Close-up of the shrine.

Still, many people come here to worship.