Researched guide · Checked on Oct 20, 2026
Just a short walk from Akihabara’s electronics and anime shops stands a shrine with about 1,300 years of history. Kanda Myojin enshrines three gods, including Daikoku and Ebisu, and is home to the Kanda Matsuri, one of Japan’s three great festivals. It is free to visit.
Quick answer
Admission: free to visit the shrine grounds.
Getting there: about 5 minutes on foot from Ochanomizu Station, or 7 minutes from Akihabara Station.
Kanda Matsuri: held every other year in May.
About the shrine
Kanda Myojin was first built about 1,300 years ago near today’s Otemachi. It moved to Kanda-dai in 1603 for the expansion of Edo Castle, and to its current site in 1616. During the Edo period it was highly respected by the Tokugawa shoguns and the warrior class.
The three gods
- Daikoku-sama (Ohnamuchi-no-mikoto)
- Ebisu-sama (Sukunahikona-no-mikoto)
- Masakado-sama (Taira-no-Masakado-no-mikoto)
Kanda Matsuri
The Kanda Matsuri is held every other year in May and is counted among Japan’s three great festivals. The last one was held in 2025. Dates for the next festival will be announced on the shrine’s official website.
Visiting tips
- Follow basic shrine manners: bow at the gate and wash your hands at the water basin. See our shrine and temple etiquette guide.
- EDOCCO STUDIO, in the shrine’s culture center, offers hands-on Japanese culture experiences. Check its website for programs.
- It is a short walk from Akihabara, so it fits easily into a day of anime and electronics shopping.
How to get there
| Station | Line | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Ochanomizu (Hijiri-bashi exit) | JR Chuo and Sobu lines | About 5 min |
| Ochanomizu (Exit 1) | Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line | About 5 min |
| Shin-Ochanomizu (Exit B1) | Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line | About 5 min |
| Suehirocho | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line | About 5 min |
| Akihabara (Electric Town exit) | JR lines | About 7 min |
Address: 2-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku. Parking at the shrine is limited. See our Ueno and Akihabara guide.
Planning which ones to visit? See eight temples and shrines side by side in temples and shrines in Tokyo.
For the Kanda Matsuri and other May events, see Tokyo in May.
FAQ
Is Kanda Myojin free?
Yes. Visiting the shrine grounds is free.
When is the Kanda Matsuri?
It is held every other year in May. The last one was in 2025.
How do I get to Kanda Myojin from Akihabara?
Walk about 7 minutes from the Electric Town exit of JR Akihabara Station.
Who is enshrined at Kanda Myojin?
Three gods: Daikoku-sama, Ebisu-sama and Masakado-sama.
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Sources
History, festival information and access come from Kanda Myojin’s official website (checked October 20, 2026). Please check before you go.
