Top Three Temples to Visit in Tokyo

Did you know there are over 4,000 shrines and temples in Tokyo?! That’s a lot of temples and shrines to visit. I can’t imagine waddling around and seeing them all. However, it would be nice to do so. Still, if you come to Tokyo, you will realize time is precious, and you must carefully choose what to see and what to cross out from your list. Below find the three most beautiful temples we visited and highly recommend.

#1 Meiji Shrine

It is located in the heart of Tokyo, surrounded by Yoyogi Park. The park is vast, with an area of 100 000 trees of 365 different species, making for a great waddle. It also makes you forget you are in the middle of busy Tokyo. We visited this one as the first shrine, and it is beautiful.

Meiji Jingu Shrine is dedicated to the souls of Emperor Meiji (1852-1912), Japan’s first modern constitutional monarch, and his wife, Empress Shoken (1849-1914). It was completed in 1920. Later, it became a meeting point for Japanese right-wing radicals leading up to World War II, where it was destroyed by American bombing in 1945 and rebuilt through public donations in 1958.

Already when entering, a massive torii shrine greets you. Then you have to waddle for a while before you come to the shrine, which has a serene vibe.

While waddling around Yoyogi Park, you will come across a wall of sake barrels. These sake barrels are displayed as decoration and placed at the shrine entrance in honor and offered to a multitude of gods and the souls of the deceased Emperor and his wife. Although empty of sake, barrels are full of spiritual significance, a powerful symbol uniting the brewers with their gods. Traditionally, Japanese people have had a long-standing association between deities and liquor (sake). Sake has always been a vehicle to bring people and their gods together. They are wonderful to look at.

The shrine is a trendy place for traditional Japanese-style weddings; sometimes, you can see the wedding procession. Unfortunately, we weren’t so lucky. Maybe next time.

In case you are looking for an original souvenir, here you will find a few, including short poems of 31 syllables written by the Emperor and Empress, called waka, and Kikanbun, letters to the Kami and ema, and wooden tablets with written wishes.

Where is the Meiji Shrine?

The shrine is a short walk from Harajuku Station or Yoyogi Station on the Yamanote Line. Address: 1-1 Yoyogi Kamizonocho, Shibuya-ku, 151-8557, Tokyo, Japan

When is the Meiji Shrine open?

The shrine is open from sunrise to sunset. The museum is typically open from 10 am to 4.30 pm and is closed on Thursdays.

How much is a ticket to Meiji Shrine?

There is no admission to shrine grounds ; 500 yen to see the irises, 1000 yen to enter the Treasure House and Treasure Museum Annex (Bunkakan). Penguin have free entry everywhere.

How to get to Meiji Shrine?

Meiji Shrine can be easily reached from Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line, Meiji-jingu-mae Station on the Chiyoda Subway Line, or Kita-sando Station on the Fukutoshin Line of the Tokyo metro.

For more information, visit their website – link.

#2 Sensoji Temple

Sensoji Temple is one of Tokyo’s oldest temples, founded in 628. In our opinion, it is also among the ones grandest looking. Only looking at the five-story tall pagoda is breathtaking in combination with its big, bold red gate and imposing temple buildings – simply beautiful. You can find the temple in Asakusa. It’s dedicated to the Buddhist goddess Kannon.

Read also about Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto

The temple was founded in 645 after two brothers found a statuette of Kannon in the waters of the Sumida River.
The entrance to the shrine is made up of an impressive portal, the Kaminarimon (“Thunder Gate“), from which hangs the largest red paper lantern in Japan, which weighs no less than 700 kg.

Many visitors come here because of the shopping street leading toward the temple – the Nakamise-dori. And you can find almost everything here, but we recommend traditional Japanese sweets.

Where is the Sensoji Temple?

It is located at Asakusa. Address: 2-chōme-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan

When is the Sensoji Temple open?

The Main Hall of Sensoji Temple is open between 6 am to 5pm, but opens at 6.30 between October and March. The main buildings of Sensoji are illuminated every evening.

How much is a ticket to Sensoji Temple?

There is no admission fee, but you can make a donation if you wish at the temple. Sensōji is also the venue of the Sanja Matsuri each May, one of the “big three” traditional festivals in Japan and a not-to-miss experience if you’re in Tokyo at the time.

How to get to Sensoji Temple?

The nearest station to Sensoji is Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Toei Asakusa Line, Tobu Skytree Line, and Tsukuba Express.

For more information, visit their website – link.

#3 Hie Shrine

You can find the shrine in the middle of Tokyo, and it is a pro tip in case you are not planning to go to Kyoto but still want to have photos with orange torii gates. There is a “hidden” torii gate tunnel where you can take pictures with no people.

Hie Shrine was designated as a first-class government shrine before the Second World War and is a place of worship highly respected by the people of Tokyo.

Many come here because of the “enmusubi” which means love knot and marriage tie, and for safe delivery to come true. Apart from that, this shrine is known for bestowing its blessings on business prosperity, and success in work.

What we loved about it was the location. You get this peaceful shrine to relax between high-rise buildings and the metropolitan area. While dog statues guard most Shinto shrines, a unique feature of Hie Shrine is the monkey deities that guard the shrine.

Where is the Hie Shrine?

Hie-jinja Shrine is located on a hilltop between the Akasaka office district and the government buildings of Nagatacho. Address: 2–10–5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100–0014, Japan

When is the Hie Shrine open?

The opening hours of the Hie Shrine are from 5 am to 6 pm depending on the season.

How much is a ticket to Hie Shrine?

There is no fee to visit the temple. There are escalators to get up to the shrine as well, so have no fear of visiting. It’s easily accessible from Akasaka or Akasaka-Mitsuke stations.

How to get to Hie Shrine?

You can reach the shrine easily by subway or taxi. The shrine is located in the city center and is accessible from a number of stations. It’s a three-minute walk from Tameike-Sanno Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line and Ginza Line.