Takagi Shrine (高木神社) is a local shrine in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, known for an unusual matchmaking tradition: a connection between visitors that depends on the symbolism of the onigiri (rice ball). The shrine has crafted an entire onigiri-themed iconography of matchmaking — from charms to ema — based on the simple poetic idea that “rice grains that have come together cannot be separated.”
The principal deity is Takamimusubi no Kami, one of the most ancient creator deities, associated with the very act of creation and connection. The shrine’s name itself (“Takagi” — “tall tree”) reflects the venerable cedars on its grounds.
The onigiri-themed charms make Takagi one of the most photogenic and Instagram-friendly small shrines in eastern Tokyo.