Atago Shrine

Perched atop the tallest natural hill in central Tokyo, this shrine dedicated to protection from fire is reached by a famously steep stone staircase known as the slope of success, tied to a legend of a samurai who rode a horse up and down it to fetch plum blossoms for a shogun. Founded in the early seventeenth century, the shrine offers a leafy retreat and a small pond among the surrounding office towers. Climbing the daunting steps has become a ritual for those hoping to advance in career and life.