Local Power Spots – Boost Your Fortune with Street Karting
Discover a unique way to visit Tokyo’s most auspicious shrines and temples for good luck, romance, and prosperity—all while experiencing the thrill of street karting.
Tokyo Power Spot Tour by Kart
Meiji Shrine
Blessings: Matchmaking, Family Safety, Academic Success
Dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, this iconic shrine is one of Tokyo’s most powerful spiritual sites. Despite being just a short walk from Harajuku Station, the shrine’s 700,000-square-meter sacred forest creates a tranquil sanctuary away from the urban hustle. The approach to the main hall is filled with refreshing energy that washes away the stress of city life. The “Married Couple Camphor Trees” (Meoto Kusu) are particularly famous as symbols of romantic connection, drawing countless visitors seeking true love.
Senso-ji Temple
Blessings: Business Prosperity, Family Safety, Wish Fulfillment
As Tokyo’s oldest temple with nearly 1,400 years of history, Senso-ji remains a beloved spiritual destination. The path from the iconic Kaminarimon Gate through Nakamise Shopping Street to the main hall bustles with worshippers year-round. The principal deity, Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy), is revered for her compassion and benevolence. The Yogodo Hall within the grounds offers special sutra copying and meditation experiences—valuable opportunities for spiritual reflection and inner peace.
Tokyo Daijingu Shrine
Blessings: Matchmaking, Romance Success
Affectionately known as “Tokyo’s Ise Shrine,” this shrine is renowned for its powerful matchmaking blessings. Located just 5 minutes from Iidabashi Station in central Tokyo, it attracts daily crowds of worshippers, especially young women seeking love. As the birthplace of Shinto-style wedding ceremonies in Japan, the shrine’s ema (prayer plaques) and love fortune slips are particularly popular. Though compact, the grounds are immaculately maintained with a serene, peaceful atmosphere.
Zojo-ji Temple
Blessings: Protection from Evil, Academic Achievement, Longevity
Set dramatically against the backdrop of Tokyo Tower, Zojo-ji has served as the family temple of the Tokugawa shoguns for over 600 years. Six Tokugawa shoguns rest here, making it one of Japan’s most historically significant temples. The approach from Daimon Gate to the main hall offers breathtaking scenery where modernity and tradition harmoniously blend. The temple houses a secret Buddha statue called “Kuro Honzon” (Black Principal Image), unveiled only on special occasions.
Kanda Myojin Shrine
Blessings: Business Success, Victory, Matchmaking
Known as the guardian shrine of Edo (old Tokyo), Kanda Myojin boasts approximately 1,300 years of history. Its proximity to Akihabara has made it famous among IT entrepreneurs and business leaders seeking success. The shrine enshrines three deities offering blessings for business prosperity, competitive victory, and romantic connections respectively. The annual Kanda Matsuri festival in May ranks among Edo’s three great festivals, drawing massive crowds. The grounds uniquely blend traditional Japanese culture with modern subculture aesthetics.
Atago Shrine
Blessings: Fire Prevention, Disaster Protection, Career Advancement
Perched atop Mt. Atago at 26 meters above sea level—the highest natural elevation in Tokyo’s 23 wards—this shrine offers unique blessings. The 86 steep stone steps leading to the shrine, called “Success Steps” (Shusse no Ishidan), are legendary for career advancement based on an Edo-period tale of a samurai who rode his horse up them. Despite its central Toranomon location, the shrine maintains lush greenery and tranquility, making it popular among business professionals. The summit view provides a peaceful escape from urban chaos.
Touring Power Spots by Street Kart
Street karting offers an efficient and exhilarating way to visit Tokyo’s power spots. Starting from Shibuya, you can freely design routes to major spiritual sites including Meiji Shrine in the Harajuku-Omotesando area, Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, and Tokyo Daijingu in Iidabashi.
Driving a kart on public roads creates an open-air experience completely different from conventional sightseeing. The sensation of racing through Tokyo’s streets with wind in your face has become hugely popular among international visitors, offering a unique combination of traditional Japanese culture and modern entertainment. Transit time between spots becomes part of the adventure itself as you enjoy Tokyo’s cityscape from your kart.
A regular driver’s license is required to operate the karts. For detailed license requirements, please check the official website.
Worship Etiquette and Tips
At Shinto shrines, the basic etiquette follows the “two bows, two claps, one bow” pattern. Bow once before passing through the torii gate, and walk along the sides of the approach path (avoiding the center, which is reserved for deities). Purify your hands and mouth at the temizuya (water pavilion) before proceeding to the main hall. After making an offering, ring the bell, bow deeply twice, clap twice, silently offer your prayer, then bow once more. At Buddhist temples, worship without clapping—simply join your palms in quiet prayer. When burning incense, use your hand to extinguish the flame rather than blowing it out, which is considered proper etiquette.
The most important aspect of power spot visits is maintaining gratitude and humility. Rather than demanding “please grant my wish,” approach with the humble mindset of “I will work hard, please watch over me.” After worship, consider obtaining omamori (protective amulets) or goshuin (calligraphy stamps) from the shrine office. Goshuin books can be purchased at each shrine or temple and serve as cherished records of your spiritual journey. When touring multiple power spots by street kart, allowing sufficient time for respectful worship at each location creates a more fulfilling fortune-boosting experience.
Timing matters too. Morning worship in fresh, crisp air offers a special experience that refreshes both body and spirit. Alternatively, shrines and temples at dusk possess their own unique atmosphere, with illuminated grounds revealing mystical beauty distinct from daytime visits. Street karting’s efficiency allows you to combine morning and evening worship experiences in a single day.
Recommended Pilgrimage Routes
For a half-day course (approximately 3-4 hours), depart Shibuya for Meiji Shrine (30 minutes worship time), explore Harajuku-Omotesando, continue to Zojo-ji Temple (30 minutes), tour the Tokyo Tower area, and return to Shibuya. This efficiently covers two major power spots, contrasting Meiji Shrine’s serene atmosphere with Zojo-ji’s historical grandeur.
For a fuller experience, try the full-day course (approximately 6-7 hours): Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Daijingu, Senso-ji Temple with Asakusa exploration (lunch break), Tokyo Skytree area, and Zojo-ji Temple. This covers four major power spots, with time for souvenir shopping and street food sampling along Nakamise Street in Asakusa. Street karting’s mobility makes this kind of efficient movement—difficult with walking or taxis—easily achievable.
For advanced visitors, a special course adding Kanda Myojin and Atago Shrine is recommended. The complete route (approximately 8 hours) from Shibuya covers all six major Tokyo power spots: Meiji Shrine, Kanda Myojin, Senso-ji, Tokyo Daijingu, Atago Shrine, and Zojo-ji. This comprehensive pilgrimage offers diverse blessings including matchmaking, business prosperity, and career advancement.
Waiting at traffic lights sometimes creates opportunities for interaction with locals. Wear comfortable, practical clothing for shrine visits—pants are recommended over skirts, especially for women. Don’t forget sunscreen and hydration in summer; dress warmly in winter. We’re happy to customize routes and provide power spot information according to your preferences. Experience Tokyo’s sacred sites in the exhilarating freedom of street karting—an unforgettable spiritual adventure awaits!
