Hidden Tokyo: A Guide to Yanesen ( Yanaka, Nezu & Sendagi )
Temples & Shrines
Step into the spiritual heart of Tokyo. Yanesen’s serene temples and shrines offer a peaceful escape from the city’s bustle and a glimpse into Japan’s traditions.
Nezu Shrine
Nezu Shrine is a cultural centerpiece of the Nezu–Sendagi community, hosting the vibrant Azalea Festival in spring and the lively annual grand festival (Reitaisai) in autumn. Its main shrine building and grand gate, completed in 1706, are rare survivors of fires and earthquakes—making them some of Tokyo’s most precious Edo-period wooden structures and designated Important Cultural Properties.
Right beside the shrine, the Senbon Torii tunnel at Komagome Inari Shrine offers a photogenic, must-see spot that captures the spirit of Yanesen in a single glance.
👉Learn more from our “Living in Yanesen” column.
💡Tip: Visit early in the morning to enjoy the torii tunnel and shrine grounds with fewer crowds—especially during the Azalea Festival, when the atmosphere becomes lively and pathways can get busy.
📍Address: 1-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 5 min walk from Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line)
⏰Opening hours: Always open
Tennoji Temple
Tennoji Temple is a peaceful oasis on a small hill beside Yanaka Cemetery—perfect for travelers looking for a quiet moment away from the city. Founded in the 13th century, it is the only temple in Yanaka whose original main hall still stands. Behind it, you’ll find a small “hidden gem”: the remains of an old Buddha statue that many visitors overlook. With open grounds and gentle views, Tennoji offers a calm, atmospheric stop on any Yanesen walk.
💡Tip: Yanaka Cemetery - one of Tokyo’s best cherry-blossom spots - was once part of Tennoji temple’s grounds, making the whole area a historic landscape to explore.
📍Address: 7-14-8 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 2 min walk from Nippori Station (JR/Keisei Line)
Kannonji Temple
Kannonji Temple, founded in 1611, is a peaceful historic temple in Yanaka that still retains a striking Tsukiji-style earthen wall (the Tsukiji-bei), about 38 m long, built in the late Edo period. This plastered mud wall with alternating clay and tile is a registered Tangible Cultural Property, offering a rare glimpse into old Tokyo architecture. The temple also features memorials tied to the famous 47 Ronin, making it both spiritually and historically rich.
💡Tip: Be sure to walk along the long earthen wall (the Tsukiji-bei); it's not just beautiful, but it's one of the few remaining traditional mud-wall constructions in Tokyo and a symbol of Yanaka’s old-world charm.
📍Address: 5-8-28 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 6 min walk from Nippori Station (JR / Keisei Line), or 6 min walk from Sendagi Station (Chiyoda Line)