Located in Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, between the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Tokyo and Nippon Medical School, Nezu shrine has a long history, having been founded in Sendagi over 1900 years ago.
Nezu Shrine is one of the ten shrines in Tokyo and is an old shrine that is said to have been founded by Yamatotakeru no Mikoto. It is famous for its azalea blossoms and the annual festival in September (one of the three major festivals in Edo).
The shrine was built by Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, the 5th Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, at the present location.
The annual festival (September 21) is said to be one of the three major festivals in Edo, along with the Sanno Festival and the Kanda Festival, which are of the same rank. (The three major festivals are chosen differently depending on the region.)
The public festival is held on Saturday and Sunday around the 21st.
In the past, great writers such as Mori Ogai and Natsume Soseki lived in the neighborhood, and there is a “Stone of Rest for Great Writers” in the precincts of the temple.
The deities enshrined at the shrine are Susano-no-mikoto, Oyamakui-no-mikoto, and Homudawake-no-mikoto.
The deity’s divine virtues include the prevention of bad luck, business prosperity, business reflection, matchmaking, family safety, and traffic safety. During Hatsumode (New Year’s visit), the shrine is surrounded by important cultural properties and greenery and is crowded with worshippers.
Many people also visit the temple for a stroll. The temple is about a 5-minute walk from Nezu Station, Sendagi Station, and Todaimae Station on the subway line.
Parking is available for approximately 23 cars, but during the New Year’s holiday period, we recommend using public transportation or a nearby toll parking lot.
| Park Name | Nezu Shrine (Nezu Jinja) 根津神社 |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo |
| Access (by train) |
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| Access (by car) |
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| Gate of Nezu Shrine | The tower gate of Nezu Shrine | Karamon Gate of Nezu Shrine |
| The main shrine pavilion of Nezu Shrine | The main shrine pavilion of Nezu Shrine | Torii gate of Nezu Shrine |
Image Credit: Tokyo Navi via tokyo-park.net archive
