Photo= A corner of the observation deck where Tawawa-jinja Shrine will be established. It will be promoted as the highest power spot in Kyoto (Kyoto Tower, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto) =upper photo= and a rendering of the shrine

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Kyoto Tower in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto will establish "Tawawa-jinja" Shrine, named after "Tawawa-chan," or the tower's mascot, on the observation deck on December 28, which is the anniversary of the tower's opening. The shrine will be promoted as the highest power spot in the city and they are planning to sell votive pictorial plaques and fortune slips.

To Attract Young People

As a part of Kyoto Tower's efforts to attract more visitors, this plan is expected to draw various generations, including students on school excursions and families. In particular, by promoting success in love as a benefit of the shrine, it is hoped that it will be appealing to young couples.

The shrine will be two meters high and 2.8 meters wide, and located on the east side of the observation deck which has a good view of many sightseeing spots like Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Sanjusangen-do and more. The shrine will be equipped with a Torii gate and enshrine the sacred object of Tawawa-chan. There will be about 15 types of fortune slips and votive pictorial plaques, including "Love Ema," or votive plaques for love, on which a prayer for success in love can be written. After being displayed at the shrine, they will be dedicated at Shimogamo Shrine in Sakyo Ward. A part of the revenue will be utilized to preserve Tadasu-no-mori, or the sacred grove of Shimogamo Shrine.

The communication promotion department for Kyoto Tower said, "By establishing the shrine, Tawawa-chan will become a more popular character. We hope many will come up to the observation deck to worship."

After marking a high of approximately one million visitors in 1965, the year after the tower opened, there has been a steady decline due to various reasons, including the diversification of leisure activities. In recent years, the number of visitors has stood in the 500,000 to 600,000 range, but they aim to reach 600,000 visitors again in the near future.