Devoted to the Shinto deity of scholarship Sugawara no Michizane (the family name is Sugawara), the shrine is fondly known by many as “Tenman no Tenjin-san”, (The Tenman God) and is revered by many including students preparing for exams. In the summer, Tenjin Matsuri is one of Japan’s top three festivals with more than 1000 years of history and tradition, and is also visited by over 1 million people each year. The front approaching towards the shrine is the Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street which is the longest shopping street in Japan.
