A masterpiece of Edo craftsmanship, Nezu-jinja Shrine combines elegant shrine architecture with one of Tokyo’s most stunning azalea gardens.

Tucked away in the quiet Yanaka–Nezu–Sendagi area of Bunkyo Ward, Nezu-jinja Shrine is a rare example of Edo-period architecture that has remained virtually unchanged for over 300 years. According to legend, the shrine was originally founded by Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, a heroic figure of Japanese mythology, who enshrined the deity Susanoo no Mikoto. During the Edo period, the fifth shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi carried out a grand reconstruction, designating it as the guardian shrine of his successor, Tokugawa Ienobu. The current structures were completed in 1706 and have miraculously survived earthquakes, fires, and wars, preserving the architectural beauty of that era. Nezu-jinja’s main hall, offering hall, and the Karamon and Romon gates are all designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The shrine is built in the gongen-zukuri style, a quite unusual and opulent architecture, different from what you usually find in shrines, but seen in the Nikko Toshogu Mausoleum. Its distinguishing features are lavish carvings, lacquered woodwork, and golden sculptures contrasting with brilliant vermilion tones. On the premises, you will also find a path of red torii gates, recalling the famous one at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, and a pond with koi carps, crossed by a lovely small bridge.

Easily accessible by subway from Ueno or Tokyo Station (get off at Nezu Station on the Chiyoda Subway Line), Nezu-jinja offers travelers an authentic experience of old Tokyo, where history, spirituality, and nature coexist in harmony. Although close to the famous Ueno Park, few travelers visit this shrine, but it is definitely worth a detour!