20 Temples in Tokyo worth your time

A historic Rinzai Zen temple that served as Japan's first British Legation and witnessed dramatic samurai attacks in the 1860s.

What it is

• A temple of the Rinzai Myoshinji school founded by Ito Sukeyoshi in 1609.
• The site of the first British Legation in Japan established under Minister Rutherford Alcock.
• A designated national historic site that served as a burial ground for the Date and Ikeda clans.
• The location of two violent attacks by samurai against British residents in 1861 and 1862.

What to see

• Historic temple grounds that moved to this current Takanawa location in 1636.
• The burial site and monuments dedicated to the powerful Date and Ikeda clans.
• Architectural features remaining from its time as a diplomatic residence and site of conflict.

Getting there

• Accessible by foot from Shinagawa Station and Takanawa Gateway Station.
• Located within walking distance of Sengakuji Station on the Asakusa Line.

Read more about Tōzen-ji Temple

A historic 17th-century temple in Taito featuring cultural treasures and the graves of legendary Kabuki actors.

What it is

• A Shinshu Bukko-ji school temple established in 1628 as a training hall
• The temple moved to its current Ryusen location in 1683 following multiple fires
• The current reinforced concrete main hall was completed in 1930 after the Great Kanto Earthquake
• This site served as a filming location for a movie released in 2019

What to see

• A designated wooden standing statue of Amida Nyorai housed within the temple
• A wooden statue of Prince Shotoku registered as a cultural property
• The burial site of famous Kabuki actors Nakamura Kanzaburo XVII and XVIII
• The reinforced concrete main hall architecture dating back to the early Showa era

Getting there

• The temple is an eight-minute walk from Minowa Station
• Visitors can reach the site in eight minutes on foot from Iriya Station

Official site

saitokuji.tobiiro.jp

Read more about Saitoku-ji Temple

A historic Shingon temple in Sumida featuring a donated deity statue and the grave of a famous Edo-period acupuncturist.

What it is

• A Shingon Buzan sect temple founded in 1610 by the priest Yuban.
• The forty-sixth site of the Gofunai 88 Pilgrimage route.
• Dedicated to the main deity Yakushi Nyorai, also known as Kawakami Yakushi.
• Relocated to its current site in Sumida in 1689.

What to see

• A Yakushi Nyorai statue donated by the famous lord Tokugawa Mitsukuni.
• The grave of acupuncturist Sugiyama Waichi, a designated Tokyo Metropolitan historic site.
• A memorial statue housing the remains of 3,500 war victims.
• Traditional temple grounds known by the mountain name Mantokusan.

When to go

• An annual brush memorial service is held on November 23.

Getting there

• The temple is an eight-minute walk from Kikukawa Station.

Read more about Miroku-ji Temple

A 10th-century Soto Zen temple in Hinode featuring a unique Korean-style shrine and traditional cultural performances.

What it is

• A Soto Zen temple founded in 931 by Taira no Yoshifumi.
• The site serves as the administrator for the Myoken-gu shrine.
• The grounds house a haiku monument dedicated to Takagi Kakurenbo.

What to see

• The Myoken-gu shrine rebuilt in 1987 in a distinct Korean architectural style.
• A shrine building featuring a plaque inscribed with the name Shichiseiden.
• A temple bell designated as a Hinode Town cultural property.
• Toko-ji temple located approximately 600 meters to the west.

When to go

• May 3rd to witness traditional Korean dance and music performances.
• August for the annual Horohoro-ki ceremony.

Getting there

• The temple is a 26-minute walk from Musashi-Hikida Station.

Read more about Tōkō-in Temple

A peaceful Zen temple in Tokyo famous as the birthplace of the beckoning cat and the Ii family burial site.

What it is

• A Soto Zen temple established in 1480 by Kira Masatada.
• Designated as the family temple of Lord Ii Naotaka in 1633.
• Considered a birthplace of the maneki-neko beckoning cat tradition.
• The temple name derives from the posthumous Buddhist name of Ii Naotaka.

What to see

• A Buddha Hall built in 1677 by the daughter of Ii Naotaka.
• A three-story pagoda featuring cat carvings added in 2006.
• The Ii family cemetery which is designated as a national historic site.
• The grave of the prominent historical figure Ii Naosuke.

Getting there

• A ten-minute walk from Gotokuji Station on the Odakyu Line.
• Five minutes away from Miyanozaka Station on the Tokyu Setagaya Line.

Official site

gotokuji.jp

Read more about Gōtoku-ji Temple

A 16th-century Soto Zen temple in Tokyo offering zazen and sutra copying sessions to the general public.

What it is

• A Soto Zen temple founded in February 1593 by Omuro Funsatsu.
• The mountain name of this religious site is Fumonsan.
• The temple enshrines Shakyamuni Buddha as its main image.
• A public place of worship that remains open to the general visitor.

What to see

• The main image of Shakyamuni Buddha housed within the temple grounds.
• Traditional architecture dating back to the early Edo period foundation.

When to go

• Zazen meditation sessions are held twice every month.
• Sutra copying sessions occur on the second Sunday of each month.

Getting there

• A six-minute walk from Shirokane-Takanawa Station.
• A ten-minute walk from Tamachi Station.

Read more about JIgen-ji Temple

A historic Byzantine-style Orthodox cathedral in Tokyo featuring a striking green dome and designated as an Important Cultural Property.

What it is

• The main cathedral of the Orthodox Church in Japan completed in 1891.
• A Byzantine style structure designated as an Important Cultural Property in 1962.
• The building was restored by architect Shinichiro Okada after the Great Kanto Earthquake.
• Josiah Conder handled the implementation design of the original cathedral structure.

What to see

• A prominent green dome that reaches thirty-five meters in height.
• Restored architectural details dating from the late nineteen-twenties reconstruction.
• Interior spaces accessible to visitors for a three hundred yen maintenance fee.

Getting there

• The cathedral is accessible from Ochanomizu and Shin-Ochanomizu stations.

Official site

nikolaido.org

Read more about Holy Resurrection Cathedral

A historic Shingon Chisan sect temple in Hachioji featuring a 13th-century foundation and a designated toad breeding pond.

What it is

• A Shingon Chisan sect temple located in Hachioji, Tokyo.
• Reportedly founded in 1234 during the Kamakura period.
• The temple's mountain name is Jokosan.
• Includes the Takasai Shrine located within the temple grounds.

What to see

• The main hall which was constructed in 1853.
• A bronze Yakushi Nyorai statue designated as a city tangible cultural property.
• Shinji Pond, a designated historic site for toad breeding.
• A bell tower established in 1658.
• The Kannon-do hall founded by Ryugen in 1411.
• A Manyoshu poem monument located in the adjacent Manyo Park.

Getting there

• A fifteen-minute walk from Nishi-Hachioji Station.

Read more about Shinkaku-ji Temple

A 17th-century Jodo Shinshu temple in Tokyo housing the graves of notable artists, calligraphers, and historical figures.

What it is

• A Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha temple founded in 1628 by Shaku Kanri.
• The founder was the grandson of the famous samurai Yamamoto Kansuke.
• The temple has occupied its current location since 1718.
• It serves as the final resting place for several prominent Japanese cultural figures.

What to see

• The grave of Ragusa Tama, a notable Japanese painter.
• The burial site of the calligrapher Yoshida Toshimitsu.
• The tomb of Ishikawa Tokumatsu, who founded the Zebra stationery company.
• The grave of the historical figure Kin-kanban Jinkuro.

Getting there

• The temple is a nine-minute walk from Azabu-juban Station.

Read more about Chōgen-ji Temple

A historic Jodo Shu temple in Tokyo housing the graves of famous cartographers and a culturally significant bronze bell.

What it is

• A Jodo Shu Buddhist temple founded by Priest Doa in 1590.
• Named after the founder of Jodo Shu by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1604.
• The temple moved to its current location in Higashi-Ueno in 1657.
• The main object of worship is a statue of Honen.

What to see

• A bronze bell designated as a Taito City Tangible Cultural Property.
• National historic site graves of cartographers Ino Tadataka and Takahashi Yoshitoki.
• The cemetery contains the grave of the painter Tani Buncho.
• The grave of Banzuiin Chobei, a Tokyo Metropolitan historic site.

Getting there

• The temple is an eight minute walk from Inaricho Station.

Read more about Genkū-ji Temple

A historic Jodo Shu Buddhist temple that served as the first French consulate and houses significant clan burial grounds.

What it is

• A Jodo Shu Buddhist temple founded in 1621 by Makino Tadashari and Nenmu Shonin.
• The site is dedicated to the main deity Amida Nyorai.
• It served as the family temple for the Makino and Matsudaira clans.
• The temple housed the first French consulate starting in 1859.

What to see

• A monument marking the former site of the French legation.
• The burial grounds containing the remains of seventeen Matsudaira family heads.
• The 26th site of the Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.
• The temple grounds located directly next to Kamezuka Park.

Getting there

• The temple is a 10-minute walk from Mita Station.

Read more about Saikai-ji Temple

A historic Tendai Buddhist temple in Yanaka featuring a massive 17th-century bronze Buddha and ties to old Edo lottery culture.

What it is

• A Tendai Buddhist temple founded in 1274 originally known as Kanno-ji
• The temple enshrines Bishamonten and was once famous for government-authorized lotteries
• A significant site on the Yanaka Shifukujin pilgrimage route
• The grounds formerly included a five-story pagoda that was destroyed by arson in 1957

What to see

• A large copper statue of Shakyamuni Buddha cast in 1690
• Several tangible cultural properties designated by Taito City
• The adjacent Yanaka Cemetery which was originally part of the temple grounds

Getting there

• The temple is a two-minute walk from Nippori Station

Official site

www.tendaitokyo.jp

Read more about Tennō-ji Temple

A historic Jodo Shu Buddhist temple in Shirokane founded in 1603, offering a quiet atmosphere and a modern memorial tower.

What it is

• A Jodo Shu Buddhist temple founded by Priest Shoyo Manei in 1603
• Originally established in Kobikicho before moving to Shirokane in 1679
• Formerly a branch temple of the famous Zojo-ji in Tokyo
• An independent religious organization also known by the mountain name Man'eizan

What to see

• The main hall used for religious services and ceremonies
• A perpetual memorial tower erected on the grounds in 1987
• A three-story residential building constructed from reinforced concrete
• The temple graveyard located within the quiet precinct
• The temple grounds situated directly opposite the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo

Read more about Shogen-ji Temple

A Jodo Shu temple in Roppongi founded by a businessman, known for its connection to historical figures and unique gong sounds.

What it is

• A Jodo Shu Buddhist temple founded in 1884 by businessman Yasukawa Shigenari
• The temple is dedicated to a statue of the deity Amida Nyorai
• Commonly known as Kankan-dera due to the sound of gongs during prayer services
• Chimyo is recognized as the ceremonial founding priest of the site

What to see

• The primary deity statue of Amida Nyorai housed within the grounds
• The burial site of the Japanese actress Imurasaki
• A location previously visited by Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa and Yanagiwara Naruko

Getting there

• The site is an eleven minute walk from Roppongi Station

Read more about Hanjō-ji Temple

A 16th-century Soto Zen temple in Tokyo featuring historic warrior graves and designated cultural property statues.

What it is

• A Soto Zen temple founded by Nakayama Terumori in 1599.
• Built on the former site of a temple called Muryo-in.
• The main object of worship is a statue of Sho-kanzeon Bosatsu.
• The temple officially received its current name in 1633.

What to see

• The grave of warrior Hirayama Sueshige, a designated historic site.
• A wooden seated statue depicting the warrior Hirayama Sueshige.
• A wooden Yakushi Nyorai statue designated as a cultural property.
• The grounds of a temple that merged with Daifuku-ji in 1884.

Getting there

• A five-minute walk from Hirayamajoshi-koen Station.

Read more about Sōin-ji Temple

A historic Soto Zen temple in Tokyo featuring a unique Jizo statue where visitors apply powder to pray for healing.

What it is

• A Soto Zen temple founded in 1599 and moved to its current location in 1635.
• The main deity enshrined at this site is Shaka Nyorai.
• The mountain name of the temple is Goseizan.
• It is home to the Oshiroi Jizo, a registered tangible folk cultural property.

What to see

• The Oshiroi Jizo statue where visitors apply baby powder to pray for health.
• A main gate donated by Prime Minister Takahashi Korekiyo in 1906.
• A statue of Sho-Kannon commemorating actress Yoko Kitahara who died in 1985.

Getting there

• The temple is a five-minute walk from Shirokane-Takanawa Station.

Read more about Gyokuhō-ji Temple

A historic Jodo Shinshu temple in Taito Ward offering unique dark dining experiences near the Asakusa district.

What it is

• A Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple founded by Priest Kakushun in 1615.
• The temple moved to its current location following the Great Fire of Meireki.
• It celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2015 at the Taito Ward site.
• The grounds include a cemetery that remains active at the current temple location.

What to see

• The temple hosts a dark dining event known as Kurayami Gohan.
• A cemetery is located on the grounds of the current temple site.

Getting there

• It is a two-minute walk from Tawaramachi Station.
• Asakusa Station on the Tsukuba Express is a three-minute walk away.

Read more about Ryokusen-ji Temple

A Shinshu Otani-ha temple in Tokyo housing historic wooden Buddhist statues from the Muromachi period and earlier.

What it is

• A Shinshu Otani-ha temple located in Kita City, Tokyo.
• Founded by a person named Sosen and originally part of the Tendai sect.
• Converted to Jodo Shinshu during the Keicho era and moved during the Showa period.
• The founding family also established a sister temple in Kanagawa Prefecture.

What to see

• A seated Nyorai statue carved from a single block of wood.
• A seated Bodhisattva statue dating back to the Muromachi period.
• The Bodhisattva statue features a complex multi-block wood construction.

Getting there

• The temple is a three-minute walk from Akabane Station.

Read more about Sōsen-ji Temple

A historic Hokke sect temple founded in 1630, serving as the final resting place for famous Edo period figures.

What it is

• A Hokke sect temple founded in 1630 by Okubo Hikozaemon.
• The site is also known by the name Okubo-dera.
• It moved to its current location in 1668 following a fire.
• The grounds serve as a cemetery for notable historical and cultural figures.

What to see

• The grave of the temple founder Okubo Hikozaemon.
• The burial site of the legendary figure Isshin Tasuke.
• Graves of modern celebrities including announcer Takayuki Akutagawa.
• The resting places of actors Tatsuya Mihashi and Kyoko Anzai.

Getting there

• Located a one-minute walk from Shirokane-Takanawa Station.

Read more about Ryūgyō-ji Temple

A historic 16th-century temple in Taito known for its literary connections to poet Toki Zenmaro and Ishikawa Takuboku.

What it is

• A Shinshu Otani-ha temple founded in 1560 by the monk Daien.
• The temple was originally established in Aichi Prefecture before moving to Edo in 1609.
• It relocated to its current site following the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657.
• Birthplace of poet Toki Zenmaro and site of Ishikawa Takuboku's funeral.

What to see

• A stone monument dedicated to the famous poet Ishikawa Takuboku.
• Traditional temple grounds that have served the community since the 17th century.

Getting there

• A one-minute walk from Tawaramachi Station.
• A three-minute walk from Asakusa Station.

Read more about Tōkō-ji Temple