Researched guide · Checked on Nov 5, 2026
With Tokyo Tower rising behind the Main Hall, Zojoji is one of the city’s classic photo spots. It is the family temple of the Tokugawa shoguns, six of whom are buried in the grounds. Before you go, note two things: the red main gate from 1622 is covered for repairs until about autumn 2032, and the shogun graveyard is closed until December 1, 2026.
Quick answer
Main Hall hours: 6:00–17:30. Ankokuden Hall: 9:00–17:00.
Admission: free to visit the grounds. The Treasures Gallery is ¥700 for adults and the Tokugawa Shogun Graveyard is ¥500.
Closed or covered now: the graveyard is closed October 27–December 1, 2026. The main gate is under a repair cover until about autumn 2032, but you can walk through it.
New Year’s Eve 2026: the bell ringing starts at 21:45 and should end around 23:00, not at midnight.
Getting there: about 3 minutes on foot from Onarimon or Shibakoen Station (Toei Mita Line).
About the temple
Zojoji was founded in 1393 as a training temple of the Jodo (Pure Land) school of Buddhism. After Tokugawa Ieyasu came to Edo, the temple moved to its present site in 1598 and became the Tokugawa family temple. In the Edo period its grounds covered about 826,000 m², with dozens of sub-temples. Many buildings, including the shoguns’ mausoleums, were destroyed in the 1945 air raids. The Main Hall (Daiden) was rebuilt in 1974.
What to see
- Sangedatsumon (main gate): built in 1622, the temple’s only remaining original building and an Important Cultural Property. It is under major repairs until about autumn 2032 and covered by a temporary building, so it will not look like older photos. You can still walk through it, but the path is narrow, so keep moving.
- Daiden (Main Hall): with a large Amida Buddha statue from the Muromachi period.
- Tokugawa Shogun Graveyard: the tombs of six Tokugawa shoguns, Princess Kazunomiya and other family members. Closed October 27–December 1, 2026 while the ticket booth is rebuilt.
- Treasures Gallery: in the basement of the Main Hall, with a detailed 1:10 model of the mausoleum of the second shogun, Hidetada, and Edo-period Buddhist scroll paintings.
Treasures Gallery and Shogun Graveyard: hours and tickets
| Treasures Gallery | Shogun Graveyard | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | 11:00–15:00 (last entry 14:45) | 11:00–15:00 (last entry 14:45) |
| Weekends and holidays | 10:00–16:00 (last entry 15:45) | 10:00–16:00 (last entry 15:45) |
| Closed | Tuesdays (open if Tuesday is a national holiday) | Tuesdays (open if Tuesday is a national holiday) |
| Temporary closure | None: open as usual | October 27–December 1, 2026 |
| Adults | ¥700 | ¥500 |
| Junior high and high school students | ¥300 | Free |
| Elementary school children and younger | Free | Free |
| Combination ticket | ¥1,000 for both | ¥1,000 for both |
New Year’s Eve at Zojoji: 2026 bell times
The New Year’s Eve bell at Zojoji is earlier from 2026. The temple moved it because of crowding: the service starts at 21:30 on December 31, and the bell ringing (joya no kane, the bells for the 108 worldly passions) runs from 21:45 to about 23:00. It no longer starts at midnight.
- Bell-ringing tickets: general tickets are planned to go on sale from 9:00 on December 1 at the temple office, on the 2nd floor of the Kaikan hall.
- Main Hall: the temple lists it as open all night from December 31 until 17:30 on January 1, then 6:00–17:30 from January 2.
- Main gate: last New Year it was closed from 21:00 on December 31 to 17:00 on January 4 because of the repairs, and visitors followed a set route. We have not seen the plan for 2026–27, so check the temple’s news before you go.
How to get there
| Station | Line | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Onarimon | Toei Mita Line | About 3 min |
| Shibakoen | Toei Mita Line | About 3 min |
| Daimon | Toei Asakusa and Oedo lines | About 5 min |
| Akabanebashi | Toei Oedo Line | About 7 min |
| Hamamatsucho | JR, Tokyo Monorail | About 10 min |
| Kamiyacho | Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line | About 10 min |
Address: 4-7-35 Shibakoen, Minato-ku. Visitors are asked to use public transport. Combine it with Tokyo Tower and Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Gardens. See our Tokyo Tower and Shiba guide.
Planning which ones to visit? See eight temples and shrines side by side in temples and shrines in Tokyo.
FAQ
Is Zojoji free?
Yes, visiting the grounds is free. The Treasures Gallery costs ¥700 for adults, or ¥1,000 combined with the Tokugawa Shogun Graveyard.
What time does Zojoji open?
The Main Hall is open 6:00–17:30, and Ankokuden Hall 9:00–17:00.
Is Zojoji near Tokyo Tower?
Yes. Tokyo Tower stands right behind the temple.
Is the Tokugawa Shogun Graveyard open?
It is closed October 27–December 1, 2026 while the ticket booth is rebuilt. The Treasures Gallery stays open. Normally the graveyard costs ¥500 for adults and is free for high school students and younger.
Can I still see the main gate at Zojoji?
It is covered by a temporary building for repairs until about autumn 2032. You can walk through it, but it will not look like older photos.
What time is the New Year’s Eve bell at Zojoji?
For 2026, the service starts at 21:30 on December 31 and the bell ringing runs from 21:45 to about 23:00. It does not start at midnight.
How do I pray at Zojoji?
Put your hands together in front of the Buddha, bow, and if you like, recite “Namu Amida Butsu”. Do not clap.
Related Articles
Sources
History, buildings, hours, prices and access come from Zojoji’s official website (checked November 5, 2026). Please check before you go.
- Zojoji (official, English)
- Zojoji: access (official, Japanese)
- Zojoji: FAQ (official, Japanese)
- Tokugawa Shogun Graveyard (official, Japanese)
- Main gate repairs: progress report (official, Japanese)
- New Year’s Eve bell: 2026 time change (official, Japanese)
- New Year visits and gate closure, 2025 notice (official, Japanese)
- Annual events (official, Japanese)
