The Seven Lucky Gods’ Blessing.
Collect Shrine and Temple Seals in Asakusa to Fulfill your Wishes.

What seven wishes would you make if the Seven Lucky Gods could grant them?
This guide takes you around Asakusa on a short pilgrimage to receive fortune from seven shrines and temples.

The ones who bestow the seven fortunes are the Seven Gods of Fortune. This set of Gods includes those of Chinese, Indian, and of course Japanese origin. Japanese people have adopted gods from various countries, resulting in the current mix of gods found in Japanese Buddhism and Shinto today. Originally there were only two in Japan: Ebisu and Daikoku-ten, but as time went on, gods from overseas became known to the general public were grouped as the Seven Lucky Gods. Living on an island, the Japanese had a habit of taking ideas and concepts from abroad that would grant wealth and fortune.

The Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage in Asakusa became popular in the Edo period, during the rule of Ieyasu Tokugawa.
Tokugawa thought hard about how he could make his nation prosperous. He consulted with his close advisor, High Buddhist Priest Tenkai, who explained that according to the scriptures, there are seven misfortunes that bring immediate destruction and seven fortunes that bring immediate life. If there is no fear of natural or manmade disasters, then people can then rest assured that the country will be well-governed. When Tokugawa inquired about the seven fortunes, the priest elaborated. They are: longevity, wealth, popularity, integrity, dignity, kindness, and magnanimity.

Each god specializes in one of the fortunes that constitute what is considered to be a happy life, and each one was assigned a shrine or temple in Asakusa. After that, there was 270 years of uninterrupted peace in the second half of the Edo period. During this time, the tradition of praying every new year to each of the Seven Lucky Gods for peace, thriving business, and sound health was born. This tradition was not only done in Asakusa; there are over 200 pilgrimages for the Seven Lucky Gods found all throughout Japan.

As for the Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage in Asakusa, we will visit nine shrines and temples. Why nine if there are only seven gods? There is an ancient saying, which states a few things about the number nine. If the character for “seven” is rotated, it looks the character for “nine”; the number nine is found in the character for “dove”, which has many meanings; and although there is no concrete theory as to why, the number nine is also related to heaven and earth. In other words, nine brings more luck than seven.

In addition, the interpretation of the seven fortunes changed depending on the time or person and what he or she wanted. There was even a time when the fortunes of longevity and dignity were considered to be difficult to attain.

So, what wish would you make to each of the Seven Gods?
In modern times, you will most likely have more modern wishes.
While you go around the shrines and temples of the Seven Lucky Gods, think about what the seven fortunes mean to you.