Kanda Myojin

Shrine

Prefecture

Tokyo

Type

Shrine

N/A

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Train Access

Plan a trip with Kanda Myojin

About This Destination

A shrine of about 1,300 years' standing, moved to its hill above Akihabara in 1616, with Daikoku, Ebisu and the rebel warrior Taira no Masakado as its gods. Free to enter; the small museum charges 500 yen.

Climb the slope from Akihabara's Denki-gai exit and the noise drops away at the Zuishinmon, an all-hinoki gate put up in 1975. The shrine says it was founded about 1,300 years ago in what is now Otemachi, moved to Kanda-dai in 1603 when Edo Castle grew, and settled here in 1616. Three gods share it: Daikoku, Ebisu and Taira no Masakado, the tenth-century rebel whose cult the shrine still keeps. The red-lacquered hall looks wooden but is reinforced concrete and steel, finished in 1934 in the gongen style, and it became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2003. Look for the stone Daikoku, 6.6 meters tall and about 30 tons, and the memorial to Zenigata Heiji, the fictional Edo detective. The museum behind the hall opens 9:00 to 16:00, closes on Thursdays and costs 500 yen. In May of festival years the Kanda Matsuri fills the streets of the parish with mikoshi.

Location

Prefecture: Tokyo

Address: Tokyo, Japan

Nearest Station: Ochanomizu Station

Closed: The shrine museum is closed on Thursdays and can close at other times; New Year and special exhibitions change its schedule.

Hours note: The amulet and goshuin counter normally runs 9:00 to 18:00, with longer hours over New Year. The museum opens 9:00 to 16:00 (last entry 15:45).

Best time to visit: Any time; the Kanda Matsuri is held in May every other year, and the first days of January are packed

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost anything to visit Kanda Myojin?

Praying at the shrine is free. The shrine museum charges 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for students; junior high school students and younger go free.

When is the Kanda Matsuri?

The Kanda Matsuri is held in May every other year. Check the shrine's official site for the dates of the next one.

How do I get there from Akihabara?

From the Denki-gai exit of JR Akihabara Station it is about a 7-minute walk, mostly uphill. From Ochanomizu Station (Hijiri-bashi exit) it is about 5 minutes.