Kanda Shrine (Kanda Myojin), located in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo is a historic shrine founded in 730 and is honored as the head shrine of Edo (the old name for Tokyo). Although better known in Japan as Kanda Myojin, the official name of the shrine is Kanda Shrine.
The Kanda Shrine was once destroyed by fire in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and the current shrine was rebuilt in 1934.
Kanda Shrine is within walking distance from Akihabara, and can be visited in after shopping and other activities in Akihabara.
About Kanda Shrine
Torii Gate
Kanda Shrine enshrines Onamuchi-no-mikoto (god of marriage), Sukunahiko-no-mikoto (god of prosperity), and Taira-no-Masakado-no-mikoto (god of protection from disaster and misfortune).
The shrine is believed to bring good luck in marriage, conjugal harmony, good health, prosperous business, and victory, and is extremely crowded with visitors during the New Year’s holiday. Since Kanda Shrine is known as the god of business prosperity, the shrine is in the news every year for the large number of businessmen who visit the shrine on the first day of work after New Year’s.
Kanda Shrine is also known for its proximity to Akihabara, where events in collaboration with anime are held, and for the Ema (votive picture tablet) paintings of anime and manga characters that are made by visitors to the shrine.
Kanda Matsuri (Kanda Festival)
The Kanda Matsuri (Kanda Festival), held in May of odd-numbered years at Kanda Shrine, is known as the “Tenka Matsuri” along with the Sanno Matsuri at Hie Shrine.
“Tenka Matsuri” are representative festival of Edo held since the early Edo period, and has been grandly held as festival officially recognized by the shogunate.
And it is considered one of the Three Great festivals in Edo, along with the Sanno Matsuri at Hie Shrine and the Fukagawa Festival at Tomioka Hachiman Shrine.
At the same time Kanda Matsuri of Kanda Myojin is one of the Three Great festivals in Japan, along with the Gion Matsuri held at Yasaka Shrine (Kyoto) and the Tenjin Matsuri held at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine (Osaka).
EDOCCO Edo Culture Complex
Statue of Sukunahiko-no-mikoto in front of EDOCCO
Within the grounds of Kanda Shrine, there is a facility called “EDOCCO” that includes a cafe and souvenir shop.
Visitors can enjoy eating sweets and curry, as well as buying Edo goods, good luck charms, and original products unique to Kanda Shrine.
INFORMATION
NAME
Kanda Shrine (神田明神)
BUSINESS DAY
Every day
ADMISSION
Free
ADDRESS
2 Chome-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021
ACCESS
6-minute walk from Ochanomizu Station, Shin-ochanomizu Station and Suehirocho Station.
10-minute walk from Akihabara station.
STATION INFO
(JR) Ochanomizu Station
Chuo Line, Chuo-Sobu Line
(Tokyo Metro) Ochanomizu Station
Marunouchi Line
(Tokyo Metro) Shin-ochanomizu Station
Chiyoda Line
(JR) Akihabara station
Chuo-sobu Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Yamanote Line
(Tokyo Metro) Akihabara station
Hibiya Line
(Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company) Akihabara station
Tsukuba Express
(Tokyo Metro)Suehirocho Station
Ginza Line
LINK