Abstract

The lingering spirits that still inhabit Edo's soil. Explore Tokyo's shrines, temples, and historic sites where deities and urban legends intersect, tracing the land's memories and the world of folklore. A guidebook to “another Tokyo”, richly illustrated with photographs, deciphering the city's spirituality and significance.
Tracing the land's memories where deities and urban legends intersect!
Venture deeper into Tokyo's “underbelly”, further into its “inner sanctum”!
The Tokyo we see daily. Beneath its superficial bustle lies the enduring tale of the “earth spirits” (chirei), pulsing from ancient times to the present.
This volume is a unique guide to exploring the “reverse side” of Tokyo, this colossal living entity, probing its spiritual depths.
Using Tokyo's remaining temples, shrines, ruins, and landmarks as stages, it deciphers the history passed down in these places, the memories of the land, and the myriad worlds of folklore.
It connects the spirituality and significance of these sites through the keyword ‘earth spirits,’ fundamentally rethinking how we perceive the city we know.
A special guide to 11 locations within the city, leading you into the depths of the ‘other Tokyo’ lurking within the everyday!
[Tracing Earth Spirits: A Guide to Another Tokyo (All 11 Areas)]
‘Shibuya’ ‘Shinjuku’ ‘Akasaka’ ‘Takanawa’ ‘Meguro’ ‘Asakusa’ ‘Iriya/Yoshiwara’ ‘Minami-Senju’ ‘Gokokuji/Zoshigaya’ “Shakujii” ‘Ura-Shiba’
An indispensable book, richly illustrated with photographs, for discovering Tokyo's hidden side.

Author’s Information

Born in Kumamoto, Japan in 1963. Nonfiction writer and editor. Has long been involved in editing, producing, and writing a series of religious books, mainly for the general public. His books include "Mysterious Buddhist Statues" and "The Divine Tree Detective" (both published by Komakusa Shuppan), "Rumor of Shrine Tour" (Gakken Plus), "Esoteric Buddhism for Living Today" (Tenmujin), "The Complete Guide to Shrine Benefits" (KADOKAWA), "Kobo Daishi Kukai Readers" (Hara Shobo), and many others he has co-authored, including the "Weekly Shrine Travel Guide" series. (This data was current at the time this book was published.)