Kanda Shrine

Kanda Shrine (神田明神) is a Japanese shrine located in Japan. This is the shrine where the idol group μ's trains.

Description
Kanda Shrine is a shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is portrayed in the anime as the shrine where Nozomi Tojo helps out as a shrine maiden. During the busy new year period in Season 2 Episode 10, Eli Ayase and Nico Yazawa also helped out as shrine maidens.

The steep steps leading up to the side entrance of the shrine are used by the members of μ's for physical training by running up and down repetitively. The members of μ's are also shown to pray here for good fortune whenever an important live is upcoming.

The shrine also makes an appearance in Season 1 Episode 4 of the Love Live! Sunshine!! anime where Aqours and Saint Snow both visit.

In Real Life
The real-life shrine was shown to be closely mirrored in the School Idol Project anime. Due to this, the shrine is a well-known Love Live! pilgrimage spot, including the wooden wishing boards (ema) which inspire Honoka in Season 2 Episode 10 becoming an actual tradition that Love Live! fans have honored for a long time. Emas with Nozomi printed on the back as well as protective charms with the members of μ's printed on them have been sold. Kanda Matsuri, one of the three biggest annual festivals in Tokyo, held a Love Live! collaboration in 2015 with limited-edition goods and a guest appearance by Aina Kusuda, which included Nozomi being named as a Kanda Shrine ambassador.

Kanda Shrine dates back to 730 but was moved to its current location in 1616 and has been rebuilt and restored numerous times. The three major Shinto gods enshrined there are Daikokuten, Ebisu, and Taira no Masakado. Since Daikokuten and Ebisu both belong to the Seven Gods of Fortune (Shichifukujin), the shrine is also a popular place for businessmen and entrepreneurs to pray for wealth and prosperity.

Trivia

 * The shrine was featured in the Love Live! Fan Disc, with Emi Nitta, Aya Uchida and Pile introducing the area.
 * It was once again featured in the NHK Love Live! μ's Special Live Broadcast, with Emi Nitta making a prayer as well as reading out the emas there.