HIE SHRINE

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.