Nezu Shrine

Nezu Shrine is one of Tokyo's oldest and most atmospheric Shinto shrines, tucked away in the quiet residential streets of the Bunkyo ward. With a history stretching back over 1,900 years, the shrine is said to have been founded in the 1st century by the legendary prince Yamato Takeru. What makes Nezu Shrine truly special is that its current buildings date from 1706 and have never been reconstructed — they survived both the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the firebombings of World War II, making them some of the only original Edo-period shrine structures left standing in Tokyo. Several buildings on the grounds are designated Important Cultural Properties.

The shrine's most photographed feature is its tunnel of vermilion torii gates, a winding pathway of dozens of bright red arches leading to the subsidiary Otome Inari Shrine on the hillside. Often compared to Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Taisha, this compact torii tunnel offers a similarly striking experience without the crowds or the long trek — perfect for photographers and anyone wanting that iconic torii shot without leaving central Tokyo.

Nezu Shrine is perhaps best known for its spectacular azalea garden, which bursts into color every April during the annual Bunkyo Azalea Festival (Tsutsuji Matsuri). Around 3,000 azalea bushes covering the hillside bloom in waves of pink, white, red, and purple from early to late April, with peak bloom typically falling between April 10 and April 20. Admission to the azalea garden costs between 500 and 1,000 yen for adults depending on the bloom stage, while the shrine grounds themselves are free to enter year-round. The garden is open from 9:00 to 17:30 during the festival period.

This is an ideal stop for couples, solo travelers, and photography enthusiasts. Plan to spend 45 minutes to an hour exploring the grounds. The shrine is a five-minute walk from either Nezu Station or Sendagi Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, and also five minutes from Todaimae Station on the Namboku Line. Combine your visit with a stroll through the charming Yanaka neighborhood nearby, or walk south to Ueno Park and the museums around Ueno Station for a full half-day itinerary in the Shitamachi area of Tokyo.