# Nezu Shrine, Tokyo > Nezu is one of Tokyo's oldest Shinto shrines, in Bunkyo. Its lacquered buildings from 1705 are Important Cultural Properties, and a tunnel of red torii climbs the hillside to a smaller shrine. Entry is free. From early April to early May its azalea garden is in bloom. It's about 5 minutes on foot from Nezu or Sendagi stations. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/nezu-shrine - City: [Tokyo](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo), Japan - YesGo score: 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 30 min - Opening hours: Grounds by day; the azalea garden opens only during the spring festival - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free - Buildings: From 1705, Important Cultural Properties - Torii: A tunnel of red gates to Otome Inari shrine - Azalea festival: Early April to early May; the garden is paid - Deity: Susanoo — god of the sea and storms - Getting there: Nezu or Sendagi stations (Chiyoda line) — 5 minutes - Coordinates: 35.72023, 139.76072 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1705** — the shrine moved to its present site under Shogun Tsunayoshi (source: en.wikipedia) - **Oldest** — one of Tokyo's oldest places of worship (source: en.wikipedia) - **Like Nikko** — built in the ishi-no-ma-zukuri style, like Toshogu shrine (source: en.wikipedia) - **Susanoo** — the chief deity — god of the sea and storms (source: en.wikipedia) - **Ten Shrines** — Nezu is one of the 'Tokyo Ten Shrines' (source: en.wikipedia) - **Azaleas** — the blossom festival runs early April to early May (source: en.wikipedia) - **Otome Inari** — the small shrine at the end of the torii tunnel (source: en.wikipedia) - **¥0** — to enter the grounds (source: travel guides) ## What is Nezu Shrine? **Nezu** is a Shinto shrine in **Bunkyo** ward, one of Tokyo's oldest places of worship and one of the 'Tokyo Ten Shrines'. Legend says it was founded in ancient times by the legendary Prince Yamato Takeru, and in **1705** the fifth shogun, **Tokugawa Tsunayoshi**, moved it to its present site. Its buildings are in the **ishi-no-ma-zukuri** style, like the famous Toshogu shrine in Nikko, and are listed as **Important Cultural Properties** of Japan: lacquered red-and-gold facades, copper roofs and a two-storey gate. The chief deity is **Susanoo**, god of the sea and storms. It's often called Tokyo's most beautiful shrine. > **The torii tunnel without the crowds** To the left of the main hall, a corridor of dozens of red torii climbs the hillside — a small Tokyo version of Kyoto's famous gates. It leads to the small Otome Inari shrine, with a platform midway overlooking a koi pond. Come on a weekday morning: it's quieter than Asakusa, and you can photograph an empty tunnel. ## How the shrine works Entry to the grounds is **free**. Through the big red torii and the two-storey **romon** gate you reach the main hall, surrounded by a lacquered gallery. To the left are the torii tunnel, the koi pond and smaller shrines. Speak quietly and keep out of areas where rites are taking place. In spring, from early April to early May, the **azalea festival** takes place: thousands of bushes bloom on the slope behind the shrine, and all of Tokyo seems to come. According to guides, the azalea garden itself charges entry and opens only during the festival. The rest of the year the shrine is quiet and almost empty. ## What to see - **The tunnel of red torii** on the hillside. - **The main hall** with its lacquered facade. - **The two-storey romon gate**. - **Otome Inari shrine** at the end of the tunnel. - **The koi pond** below the viewing platform. - **The azalea garden** — in spring, during the festival. ## How to get to Nezu Shrine 1. **Nezu station** (Chiyoda line) — about 5 minutes on foot. 2. **Sendagi station** (Chiyoda line) — about 5 minutes. 3. **Todaimae station** (Namboku line) — about 5 minutes. 4. **From Yanaka** — about 10–15 minutes on foot. 5. **From Ueno Park** — about 20 minutes on foot via Yanaka. ## Spring or any other time | | Azalea festival | Rest of the year | | --- | --- | --- | | When | Early April to early May | All year | | Crowds | Heavy | Light | | Azalea garden | Open, paid | Closed | | Torii tunnel | Queues for photos | Empty shots possible | ## How long do you need? Allow **30–45 minutes** for the shrine, about an hour during the azalea festival. It fits nicely into the **Yanesen** walk through Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi: start at Nippori station, walk through **Yanaka** and finish here. Nearby are the cafés and shops of old Nezu. From here you can walk to **Ueno Park** or take the metro back to the centre. ## Is Nezu Shrine worth visiting? Yes: it's one of Tokyo's most beautiful and oldest shrines, with a torii tunnel and lacquered buildings, and few tourists. The YesGo take: the shrine is small, and not worth crossing the city for on its own. Combine it with Yanaka, and in spring come for the azalea festival — then it's one of Tokyo's most colourful spots. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] A weekday morning — an empty torii tunnel - [ ] April–May for the azaleas - [ ] Quiet by the main hall - [ ] Yanaka before or after - [ ] A coin for prayer ## Tokyo temples and shrines: compare and choose Temples and shrines in Tokyo rated by YesGo. - [Senso-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/senso-ji) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free - [Meiji Jingu](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/meiji-jingu) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free; Gyoen garden paid - [Zojo-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/zojo-ji) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · free; gallery ¥700 - [Nezu Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/nezu-shrine) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free; azalea garden paid in spring - [Yanaka](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/yanaka) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free - [Gotoku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/gotoku-ji) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Mount Takao](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/mount-takao) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · free; cable car ≈ ¥490 ## The Yanesen walk and Ueno Ueno Park in the morning, Yanaka in the afternoon and Nezu Shrine towards evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Ueno Park](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ueno-park) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · park free; zoo ¥600 2. [Yanaka](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/yanaka) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free 3. [Nezu Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/nezu-shrine) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free; azalea garden paid in spring ## Good to know Nezu Shrine in Bunkyo is not the Nezu Museum in Aoyama — they're entirely different places. Its torii tunnel is much smaller than Fushimi Inari's in Kyoto. ## Tips - The torii tunnel is empty in the morning. - Azaleas: early April to early May. - Combine it with Yanaka. - Speak quietly by the main hall. - Nearby: [Yanaka](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/yanaka), 10–15 minutes. ## Questions ### How much does Nezu Shrine cost? Entry is free; the azalea garden charges during the festival. ### When is the azalea festival? From early April to early May. ### How old is the shrine? On its present site since 1705; by legend it's far older. ### What is the torii tunnel? A corridor of red gates up the hillside to the small Otome Inari shrine. ### How do I get there? About 5 minutes on foot from Nezu or Sendagi stations (Chiyoda line). ### Who is the shrine dedicated to? The chief deity is Susanoo, god of the sea and storms. ### How long do you need? 30–45 minutes, about an hour during the azalea festival. ### Is this the Nezu Museum? No, the Nezu Museum is in Aoyama — a different place. ## How we checked The 1705 relocation, architectural style, Important Cultural Property status, deity, azalea festival, torii tunnel and Tokyo Ten Shrines are from Wikipedia. The official site is in Japanese only and its hours can't be read by script, so we say 'by day'. The azalea garden fee is from guides; we don't give an amount. Walking times are from guides. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Nezu Shrine — 1705, architecture, Important Cultural Properties, deity, azalea festival, torii, Tokyo Ten Shrines - Shrine official site (nedujinja.or.jp) — address, azalea festival (in Japanese) - Travel guides — azalea garden fee, walking times (unofficial) - Wikidata Q335612 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.