# Zojo-ji, Tokyo > Zojo-ji is the head temple of the Pure Land school in Tokyo and the family temple of the Tokugawa shoguns, right at the foot of Tokyo Tower. Its Sangedatsumon gate of 1622 is one of Tokyo's oldest wooden buildings. The grounds are free; the treasures gallery costs ¥700. It's the classic view of the tower above the temple roof. Onarimon station is 5 minutes away. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/zojo-ji - City: [Tokyo](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo), Japan - YesGo score: 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 40 min - Entry: free; gallery ¥700 - Opening hours: Grounds by day; treasures gallery weekdays 11:00–15:00, weekends 10:00–16:00, closed Tue - With kids: Fine with kids - Grounds: Free - Treasures gallery: ¥700; junior high and high school ¥300; younger free - Gallery hours: Weekdays 11:00–15:00, weekends 10:00–16:00; closed Tue - Combo: Gallery + Tokugawa mausoleum — ¥1,000 - Gate: Sangedatsumon, 1622 — Important Cultural Property - Getting there: Onarimon or Shibakoen (Mita), Daimon (Asakusa, Oedo) — 5 minutes - Coordinates: 35.65748, 139.74838 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1622** — the year the Sangedatsumon gate was built (source: zojoji.or.jp) - **Only original** — building of the temple still standing — this gate (source: zojoji.or.jp) - **Jodo** — the temple is head of the Pure Land school (source: zojoji.or.jp) - **Tokugawa** — family temple of the shoguns; six shoguns rest here (source: zojoji.or.jp) - **Black Buddha** — the Amida image revered by Tokugawa Ieyasu (source: zojoji.or.jp) - **1:10** — scale model of the Taitokuin Mausoleum in the gallery (source: zojoji.or.jp) - **¥700** — treasures gallery entry (source: zojoji.or.jp) - **Three afflictions** — passing the gate cleanses greed, anger and ignorance (source: zojoji.or.jp) ## What is Zojo-ji? **Zojo-ji** is the head temple of the **Jodo** (Pure Land) school of Buddhism in Tokyo, in **Shiba Park** at the foot of Tokyo Tower. When **Tokugawa Ieyasu** came to rule eastern Japan he made it his family's **temple**, and Zojo-ji has been one of the country's principal Buddhist temples ever since. Six Tokugawa shoguns rest in its grounds. Its oldest structure is the **Sangedatsumon** gate of 1622, the temple's only surviving original building and one of Tokyo's oldest wooden structures. In the school's teaching, passing through the gate cleanses you of three afflictions — greed, anger and ignorance. The temple keeps the **Black Buddha**, an Amida image revered by Ieyasu that is said to bring victory and ward off misfortune. > **The Tokyo Tower shot** Zojo-ji's most famous photo is the main hall against red-and-white Tokyo Tower. The best angle is from the forecourt in front of the hall, especially in the evening when the tower is lit. It's a working temple: don't disturb services, speak quietly and take your shoes off if you go into the hall. ## How the temple works The temple grounds are free to enter. Beyond the gate are a broad forecourt, the **Daiden** main hall and rows of stone **jizo** statues — guardians of children and travellers — in red caps with colourful pinwheels. Behind the main hall is the **Tokugawa shoguns' mausoleum**, which charges entry. In the basement of the main hall is the **treasures gallery**, opened in 2015. Its centrepiece is a detailed 1:10 scale model of the Taitokuin Mausoleum of the second shogun, Hidetada. According to the official site, the gallery is open 11:00–15:00 on weekdays and 10:00–16:00 at weekends and on holidays, closed on Tuesdays; entry is ¥700, or ¥1,000 combined with the mausoleum. ## What to see - **The Sangedatsumon gate** of 1622. - **The Daiden main hall** against Tokyo Tower. - **The Black Buddha** of Amida. - **Jizo statues** in red caps. - **The treasures gallery** with the mausoleum model. - **The Tokugawa shoguns' mausoleum**. ## How to get to Zojo-ji 1. **Onarimon station** (Mita line) — about 5 minutes on foot. 2. **Shibakoen station** (Mita line) — about 5 minutes. 3. **Daimon station** (Asakusa, Oedo lines) — about 5 minutes, through the Sangedatsumon gate. 4. **Hamamatsucho station** (JR) — about 10 minutes. 5. **From Tokyo Tower** — a few minutes on foot. ## Grounds only or with the gallery | | Grounds | With the treasures gallery | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | ¥700 (combo ¥1,000) | | Time | 20–30 minutes | About an hour | | What you see | Gate, hall, jizo, tower view | Plus the mausoleum model and scrolls | | When | By day | Not on Tuesdays | ## How long do you need? Allow **30–40 minutes** for the temple grounds, about an hour with the treasures gallery. It's easy to stop here before going up **Tokyo Tower**, a few minutes away. In the evening, when the tower is lit, come back to the main hall for the best shot, then head up **Roppongi Hills** to see the tower from above. ## Is Zojo-ji worth visiting? Yes: it's one of Tokyo's most photogenic spots — a shoguns' temple and a broadcast tower in one frame — and the grounds are free. The YesGo take: most of the temple buildings are modern, and little of old Edo remains apart from the gate. The value is in the atmosphere and the tower view; the treasures gallery is worth it if you're interested in the Tokugawa era. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Enter through the Sangedatsumon gate - [ ] Not a Tuesday — if I want the gallery - [ ] Evening — for the tower shot - [ ] Quiet by the main hall - [ ] Tokyo Tower next ## Tokyo temples: 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 ## Minato in half a day Zojo-ji temple in the afternoon, then Tokyo Tower, and Roppongi Hills in the evening for a view of the tower from above. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Zojo-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/zojo-ji) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · free; gallery ¥700 2. [Tokyo Tower](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-tower) — YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Main Deck ¥1,500; Top Deck ¥3,300 online 3. [Roppongi Hills](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/roppongi-hills) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥2,200 online / ¥2,400 on site (winter 2026–27) ## Good to know Zojo-ji is also spelled Zojoji. It's a Buddhist temple, not a Shinto shrine; there are other small temples nearby in Shiba Park. ## Tips - Enter through the Sangedatsumon gate. - The tower is lit in the evening — the best shot. - The gallery is closed on Tuesdays. - Speak quietly by the main hall. - Nearby: [Tokyo Tower](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-tower). ## Questions ### How much does Zojo-ji cost? The grounds are free; the treasures gallery is ¥700, or ¥1,000 combined with the mausoleum. ### What are the treasures gallery hours? Weekdays 11:00–15:00, weekends and holidays 10:00–16:00; closed on Tuesdays. ### How old is the gate? The Sangedatsumon gate was built in 1622. ### Who is buried at the temple? Six Tokugawa shoguns — it was their family temple. ### What is the Black Buddha? An Amida image revered by Tokugawa Ieyasu, said to bring victory and ward off misfortune. ### Where's the best view of Tokyo Tower? From the forecourt before the main hall, especially in the evening. ### How do I get there? About 5 minutes on foot from Onarimon, Shibakoen or Daimon stations. ### How long do you need? 30–40 minutes, about an hour with the gallery. ## How we checked The school, the Tokugawa connection, the Sangedatsumon gate, the Black Buddha, the mausoleum, and the treasures gallery's hours and prices are from the temple's official site. We couldn't find the separate mausoleum fee, so we give only the combo ticket. We don't cover 20th-century damage to the temple. The temple doesn't list grounds hours, so we say 'by day'. The jizo statues and walking times are from guides. ## Sources - Zojo-ji official site (zojoji.or.jp/en) — school, 1622 gate, Black Buddha, mausoleum, treasures gallery hours and prices (checked 09.11.2026) - English Wikipedia: Zōjō-ji — general information - Travel guides — jizo statues, walking times, the tower angle (unofficial) - Wikidata Q249139 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.