根津神社
根津神社 | Nezu Shrine, one of the key venues for the Nezu-Sendagi Shitamachi Festival

Nezu Shrine

  • Attractions | Religious buildings and sites
  • Nezu
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Time Out says

Dating from 1706, Nezu Shrine is an excellent example of large scale Edo-era shrine architecture. Featuring superbly contrasting vermilion and gold lacquered ‘gongen-zukuri’ style buildings, its designation as an Important Cultural Property seems justified. Also competing for attention is ‘Tsutsuji-en’, a 2,000 tsubo (around 6,600 square metres) Japanese azalea garden in the shrine’s precincts. Housing around 50 varieties of 3,000 azaleas, the garden attracts numerous sightseers each spring. Trivia buffs take note: this venerable shrine was first established in Sendagi around 1,900 years ago, and only transferred to Nezu to commemorate the fifth shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa’s choosing of his successor.

Details

Address
1-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku
Tokyo
Transport:
Nezu Station or Sendagi Station (Chiyoda line), Todaimae Station (Namboku line)

What’s on

Nezu Shrine Grand Festival

Nezu Shrine is not only famous for its 3,000 blooming azalea in spring, the sacred grounds also host the annual Grand Festival, considered as one of Edo’s (as Tokyo used to be known) top celebrations. The festival, formerly named ‘Tenkasai’, started in 1714 under the sixth shogun Tokugawa Ienobu and saw large floats carried through the streets. Nowadays, you can enjoy Sanza-no-mai and Urayasu-no-mai dance performances – both intangible cultural assets of Bunkyo ward – plus a variety of street food stalls. The shrine's main mikoshi (portable shrines) will not be carried out this year, but expect drumming performances by local taiko troupes Nezukoren and Gongen Taiko on September 20 from 11am and 12noon respectively. Sanza-no-mai performances will be held on September 21 from 2pm, and the Urayasu-no-mai performance will be held from 7pm on September 20.

Nezu-Sendagi Shitamachi Matsuri

The charming neighbourhoods of Nezu and Sendagi flaunt their shitamachi (downtown) roots at this autumn festival, which marks its 27th edition this year. The action centres around Nezu Shrine, which is hosting concerts and performances throughout the weekend, accompanied by a flea market and stalls selling traditional goods. The rest of the neighbourhood follows suit, with attractions including performances of traditional Japanese music and various dances at the Fureai-kan community centre on Shinobazu-dori. You can also take part in a stamp rally: pick up a stamp sheet and map at Nezu Shrine, tour the seven designated spots to fill up your sheet, and return it to the starting point for the chance to win prizes which include a roundtrip ticket to Hagi-Iwami Airport in Shimane prefecture, pair vouchers for Spa Laqua, and more.
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