Hello, fellow travel lovers!
This year is the Year of the Horse 🐎
So I put together a half-day walking model plan in Asagaya,
centered around shrines connected to the horse.
Pray, walk, eat, and take a little break.
It’s an easy, relaxed course you can enjoy without overplanning.
- Overview of Today’s Model Plan
- Start from Asagaya Station
- Mabashi Inari Shrine | A Shrine to Visit in the Year of the Horse
- 13 Minutes on Foot to Kisho Shrine
- Kisho Shrine | Japan’s Only Weather Shrine
- After the Shrines, Head to Junjo Shopping Street
- New Year Gathering at “Sakaba Nihoremo”
- Tea Break at HATTIFNATT
- This Plan Is Perfect For:
- Final thoughts
Overview of Today’s Model Plan
Asagaya Station
→ 10-minute walk
Mabashi Inari Shrine
→ 13-minute walk
Kisho Shrine
→ 7-minute walk
Junjo Shopping Street
It’s all on foot. Yet somehow, it doesn’t feel like that much walking.
The power of shrine visits is real.
Start from Asagaya Station
After leaving the station, head into a quiet residential area.
As you move away from the main road, the air gradually feels calmer.
I really like that subtle shift—from everyday life into “shrine mode.”
Mabashi Inari Shrine | A Shrine to Visit in the Year of the Horse
The first stop is Mabashi Inari Shrine.
About a 10-minute walk from Asagaya Station.
At the beginning of the Year of the Horse, this felt like the perfect place to start.
The moment you step onto the approach path, you might think, “Oh, I like it here.”
▶ Read the detailed visit report on Mabashi Inari Shrine here
13 Minutes on Foot to Kisho Shrine
Next, head to Kisho Shrine.
About a 13-minute walk.
But it feels more like
a pleasant neighborhood stroll.
Before you know it, you’ve arrived.
Kisho Shrine | Japan’s Only Weather Shrine
Located within the grounds of Hikawa Shrine,
Kisho Shrine is the only shrine in Japan dedicated to the god of weather.
Checking the day’s weather board and confirming, “Today is sunny ☀️”
That little ritual somehow boosts your mood.
▶気象神社の参拝レポはこちら
It’s a reassuring place to visit before a trip,
an event, or any day you hope for clear skies.
After the Shrines, Head to Junjo Shopping Street
Once the shrine visits are done, make your way to Junjo Shopping Street.
It’s about a 7-minute walk from Kisho Shrine.
Not overly touristy,
it has a warm, local feel.
It’s a calm shopping street that’s perfect for a relaxed stroll after visiting the shrines.
New Year Gathering at “Sakaba Nihoremo”
First, our New Year get-together 🍶
An easygoing place to walk into, with genuinely delicious food.
It matched our theme for the day perfectly: “It’s a New Year party—but let’s not drink too much” (laugh).
I hope the food photos give you a little sense of the atmosphere.
Tea Break at HATTIFNATT
After the meal, we headed to HATTIFNATT.
It’s simply adorable.
The menu, the interior—everything is cute.
Pray → walk → eat → finish with something sweet
That flow feels perfectly balanced.
This Plan Is Perfect For:
-
People who enjoy visiting shrines
-
Those who don’t mind walking
-
Anyone who wants a satisfying half-day outing
-
People who don’t want to compromise on good food and a cozy café stop
If that sounds like you, this course might be just right.
Final thoughts
We started the Year of the Horse with visits to Mabashi Inari Shrine and Kisho Shrine.
After that, we enjoyed a New Year gathering and tea time at Junjo Shopping Street.
It’s not heavy sightseeing, but it’s deeply satisfying.
I really like days like this.
The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip! – TabiJun
＊＊TabiJun＊＊
