Yasukuni Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Japan’s war dead. It was founded in 1869 for the purpose of enshrining those who have died fighting for their country. There are roughly 2.5 million spirits enshrined there who have fought for their country since the Meiji Restoration in 1868 to now - their names are noted along with origin, date and place of death.

Since World War II, there have been controversies surrounding this shrine in that 14 Class A war criminals are enshrined. Prime Ministers visiting the shrine has further stirred controversies due to regards concerning the violation of separate church and state.

The shrine also features a large museum about wars Japan’s been involved in from a conservative Japanese point of view.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Japan Guide

Address: 3-1-1 Kudankita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8246　

Hours: 6am - 6pm (6am - 5pm from November-February)

Website: https://www.yasukuni.or.jp/english/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Kudanshita Station, Exit 1 on the Tokyo Metro Tozai, Hanzomon, and Toei Shinjuku lines. A 10 minute walk on the Iidabashi or Ichigaya Station on the JR Sobu and Chuo Lines.

 

Rich with history, the Hie Shrine is one of the most important shrines in Tokyo due to it’s impressive Sanno Festival and it’s connections with the Shogunate Tokugawa family and the imperial family. The Sanno festival is one of three of Japan’s Great Three Festivals that takes place in June in every even numbered year. For a photogenic route, take the West entrance into the shrine to be greeted with a tunnel of red torii gates - one of the most popular photographed spots in Tokyo.

The shrine is thought to have been founded by Ota Dokan in 1478 - a warlord and the man responsible for constructing the Edo Castle - but other accounts say it’s been around for longer. When Shogun Tokugawa came into power during the edo period (1603-1868) his family was a patron of the shrine and kept it within the Edo Castle. It was moved outside the castle in 1607 so the people of Edo (Edo is original name for Tokyo) can visit the shrine. From 1878-1946 the shrine served as a First Class Government Shrine.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Photo by Tom Chen on Unsplash

Address: 2-10-5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014

Hours: 5am - 6pm (Apr-Sep)/6am - 5pm(Oct-Mar)

Website: https://www.hiejinja.net/english/index.html

How to get there: An 8 minute walk from Akasakamitsuke Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza and Marunouchi Lines. A 5 minute walk from Kokkaigijidomae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.

 

Kanda Myojin has over 1300 years of history when it opened up in Otemachi in 730. It moved to it’s current location during the Edo period (1603-1868). Due to it being very close to Akihabara - the geek/computer savvy neighborhood - it’s popular among the otakus and tech geeks as well. You can pray for prosperity, good luck, success in business and marriage at this shrine. Kanda Myojin enshrines 3 deities: Daikokuten, who presides over bountiful harvests and matrimony, Ebisu, the god of fisheries and business and Taira no Masakado, a rebel against the Hei'an government (794–1185) whom later earned revered status. You can find their beatiful statues inside their large complex. The shrine also features a shop and cafe where you can get souvenirs unique only to this shrine and try traditional drinks and sweets in the cafe.

If you’re lucky to visit during an odd numbered year in May (ex. 2019 May), then you can experience their very famous festival. The festival or Kanda Matsuri is considered to be one of Japan’s Three Great Festivals.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Jana Guide

Address: 2-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021

Hours: 9am - 5pm

Website: https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/what/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Ochanomizu Station on the JR Chuo Line. If you are in the Akihabara area, it’s about a 15 minute walk.

 

Located conveniently next to the world renowned Tsukiji Fish Market, this temple is a hidden gem in Tokyo. Hongan-ji is a Jodo-Shinshu Buddhist temple - the most practiced form of Buddhism in Japan. What makes this temple unique is that it’s architecture was inspired by Southeast Asian temples - primarily Indian temples - making it a truly spectacular mix of culture in architecture. You can also go inside the grounds of the temples and if you’re lucky enough you might be able to see the monks reciting their mantras.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Accessible Japan

Address: 3 Chome-15-1 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045

Hours: 6am - 5pm

Website: https://tsukijihongwanji.jp/

How to get there: A 1 minute walk from Tsukiji Station, Exit 1 on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line

 

Dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken who ruled Japan from 1868 to 1912 and responsible for “modernizing and westernizing” Japan, Meiji Shrine is one of the most famous shrines in Tokyo. It should definitely be on your list of things to do in Tokyo list. The shrine was built in 1920, 8 years after the Emperors death and stood until it was destroyed in the Second World War, but was rebuilt shortly after.

Meiji Shrine is adjacent to Yoyogi Park which help make up its massive forest that enshrouds the shrines main complex. Entrance into the shrine is marked by a massive torii gate. Once entering the gate, you can walk along the forested path that’ll lead you to the main shrines complex. The shrine is surrounded by over 100,000 trees which were donated from all around Japan. Along the way, you can see barrels of sake - a common sight at shrines as a symbol of connection between humans and spirits. Parallel to the sake are barrels of wine because Emperor Meiji - an advocate for embracing Western culture - enjoyed drinking wine especially after being diagnosed with diabetes which discontinued his sake intake. Join us on our Tokyo tour.

Read about our guide to proper etiquette’s at shrines here.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Savvy Tokyo

Address: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-8557

Hours: 5am - 6pm

Website: https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/

How to get there: A 1 minute walk from Harajuku Station on the JR Line or the Meiji-jingumae Station on the Chiyoda Line.

 

Being the oldest temple in Tokyo, Zojoji dates back to 628, when two fisherman were fishing nearby in the Sumida River and were surprised to see that they had caught a statue. They brought the statue to their village headman and he was surprised to see that it was a statue of Kannon - the buddhist deity associated with compassion. The village headman converted his home to a place of worship. The area grew in popularity with many visitors and worshipers and even became an important place where shoguns (the military dictator) had their offerings.

Today, it’s a very popular and important temple that is surrounded by many cultural and traditional stores which include the famous Nakamise shopping street - a large line of shopping vendors that lead up to the temple.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032

Hours: The shopping street hours are from 10am - 5pm

Website: http://www.senso-ji.jp/english/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from the Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line, Asakusa Line, Tobu Skytree Line and Tsukuba Express.

 

Zojoji temple was built in 1393 as the Jodo-shu sect of Buddhism (Pure Land Buddhism) for the eastern region of Japan (Kanto). It moved to it’s current location in 1598, when Tokugawa Ieyasu moved to Tokyo and began ruling as shogun. Under Shogun Tokugawa’s rule, Zojoji Temple became the family temple. It also served as the center for religious studies and activities for Jodo-shu Buddhism. Since then, it has been destroyed by fires and air raids during World War II and rebuilt to it’s current form now. This temple is special in that it features the Tokyo Tower in the background, making it a unique contrast between the past and the present.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Address: 4-7-35 Shibakoen Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011 Japan

Website: https://www.zojoji.or.jp/en/

How to get there: A 10 minute walk from Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Lines, a 3 minute walk from Onarimon Station on the Mita Line and 5 minute walk from Daimon Station on the Toei Asakusa and Oedo Lines.