Kameido-Shrine, known for its wisteria, was my destination this time—my first visit in two years. I usually come around Golden Week, so this was quite early. Even so, with the Fuji-Matsuri Festival already underway, the grounds were packed. After about a 10-minute wait to pay my respects, I wandered over to the wisteria trellises. Some were still sparsely in bloom, but others were already in full glory—more than enough to enjoy. And the wisteria framed against Tokyo Skytree makes for a great photo—very social-media-friendly. Walking beneath the trellises, you could also catch the faint, sweet scent of the blossoms in the air. Feeling like a quick drink, I grabbed some takoyaki and a can of 氷結 from a food stall (why not).
Since I’d heard that Katori-jinaja Shrine was about a 7–8 minute walk away, I strolled over through the winding, old-school neighborhood streets. It turned out to be quite an impressive shrine, apparently known as a guardian deity of sports. There may not be a huge number of standout sights, but for athletes—or their families—picking up a charm here could make for a meaningful souvenir.