Shrine Navita Installed at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, Known as the God of Happy Marriages

Hyojito Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture; President and CEO: Takahiro Tokemochi; hereinafter "the Company"), known for displaying area guide maps, has installed the Shrine Navita at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine (Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture).

This installation aims to advance the Company’s social contribution initiatives using its latest technology, promote accurate knowledge of Japanese culture and shrines to an increasingly diverse group of worshippers, and further improve the convenience of surrounding and on-site guidance. This project was carried out upon the request of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Shrine Navita installed beside the administrative office

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is said to have been founded approximately 1,500 years ago, in the second year of Emperor Kinmei (541 AD) during the Kofun period. Since the construction of Kawagoe Castle by father and son Toshinobu and Dōkan Ōta in the first year of Chōroku (1457) during the Muromachi period, the shrine has been deeply revered as the guardian deity of Kawagoe.

The five enshrined deities are considered a family, including two married couples, leading to its long-standing reputation as a god of matchmaking.

Furthermore, the main hall has received a recommendation for designation as a National Important Cultural Property (Note 1), and together with the 'Kawagoe Hikawa Festival Float Parade,' registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, the shrine is recognized as a cultural asset where festivals and buildings form an integrated entity.

Left: Main Hall of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine / Right: Torii Gate of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

The Shrine Navita at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine measures 2,100 mm in height, 1,999 mm in width, and 488 mm in depth. On the left side, an ema-shaped advertisement with illuminated LED displays information about sponsoring companies and stores. On the right, a 49-inch touch-screen digital signage (Note 2) is installed. Visitors can view information on the shrine’s history, festival details, premises guide, and worship and purification rituals in both Japanese and English.

Note 1: Will be officially designated as a National Important Cultural Property following government announcement.

Note 2: Digital signage operating hours are from 6:00 to 18:00 (subject to change depending on season).

Comment from Reverend Yoshihisa Yamada, Chief Priest of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, on the installation of Shrine Navita:

"I feel that the design of the newly installed digital signage, while modern, has been carefully considered in terms of color and appearance to harmonize with the overall shrine scenery. Additionally, the guide map does not fix the top as 'north' but instead displays directions aligned with the visitor’s movement, making it intuitive to understand the relative positions of one’s current location and destination. This map design is very easy to read.

"Our shrine has long been affectionately known as the 'god of matchmaking,' welcoming many worshippers daily, with increasing numbers of international visitors in recent years. However, there have been instances where foreign-language guidance on shrine-specific worship practices has not been sufficiently provided. In such cases, consolidating information in one place and delivering accurate information on Japanese traditions and the shrine premises through multilingual digital signage allows visitors to access information without confusion, which I find highly valuable.

"We host various festivals throughout the year, including the 'Enmusubi Furin' (Wind Bell for Bonding) event starting in late June. In the future, we hope to carefully communicate information to a wide range of visitors—from regular worshippers to tourists—so that more people become interested and are encouraged to visit again."

About 'Shrine Navita' by Hyojito

We refer to the Navita units installed at shrines as 'Shrine Navita.' It is an original medium that incorporates our company’s most advanced technologies, transmitting digital signage, illuminated maps, comprehensive guideboards, and information on sponsors and nearby businesses.

Moving forward, we will continue to strive to assist in properly and widely promoting the importance of history and culture, not only for local communities but also for people both domestically and internationally, contributing to social development, regional revitalization, and growth through the Navita platform.

Company Overview

Company Name: Hyojito Co., Ltd.

Head Office:

(Tokyo Head Office) Navita Toto Building, 5-12-22 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

(Nagoya Head Office) Navita Meito Building, 4-2-11 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture

Representative: President and CEO Takahiro Tokemochi

Business Activities: Comprehensive advertising (transportation, outdoor, and various advertising planning and production), planning, installation, and management of guide signs and advertisement-equipped guide maps

Established: February 1967

URL: https://www.hyojito.co.jp/