Kanda

Tokyo

Kanda
Kanda
Kanda
Kanda
Kanda
Religion and pop culture come together in this district where you can mingle with anime and manga fans and pay a visit to an ancient Shintō shrine.

Kanda is an academic and residential district in the Japanese capital, a place where religion and pop culture go hand in hand. Make an offering to the Gods of Fortune and shop for souvenirs or electronic gadgets in Akiba the “home of anime.”

Chuo Dori, the main street of Akihabara (or simply “Akiba”), is turned into a pedestrian area on Sunday afternoons and is all about shopping for electronic gadgets.

Visit a “manga kissa,” an internet café where you can read comics and watch DVDs. Or, for something really quirky, visit a “maiden café” where waitresses dress up as the shrine maidens from the popular anime movies for high school kids.

Each odd-numbered year in mid May, you can witness the Kanda Matsuri, one of Japan’s most-loved cultural festivals. This celebration was started by Tokugawa Ieyasu, a shōgun from the Edo Period, as a public display of prosperity. The parade starts at the Kanda Myojin Shrine. After some Shintō rituals, the deities are paraded around Kanda and neighboring districts and through the Edo Castle grounds.

If you are here in an even-numbered year, you can visit the celebrations of Sanno Matsuri or Fukagawa Matsuriinstead.

The Kanda Myōjin shrine has been here since 1616, but dates back to 730. A cultural hall with tea house opened in the complex in 2018, making this a great place to get familiar with some ancient, and contemporary, Japanese traditions.

Amazingly, a character from a blockbuster anime series has become an official mascot of the temple. What’s more, the on-site shop sells “IT charms” to protect your digital devices from intruders.

Another shrine in Kanda, Yushima Seido, is dedicated to Confucius, the famous Chinese philosopher. In late winter each year, the Yushima Tenjin Shrine near the Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park holds its plum fest.

Kando delights music and book lovers with the Ochanomizu Music Instrument Avenue and the Jimbocho Book Town.

Among the more unusual sights in this ward is the Russian-style Nikolai-do, the main cathedral of the Japanese Orthodox Church, from the Meiji Period.

Kanda is just northeast of the Tokyo Imperial Palace (Edo Castle). Head to Ochanomizu Station on the JR Chuo line if coming from Tokyo Station near the main attractions. The trip only takes about 5 minutes.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Kanda

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo
Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo
4.5 out of 5
2-2-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
The price is P22,532 per night from 20 Mar to 21 Mar
P22,532
P28,503 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 20 - Mar 21
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, 10 restaurants, and 5 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,105 reviews)
"Great location and very friendly staff"

Reviewed on Mar 17, 2025

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo
APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower
APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower
3 out of 5
1-11-10 Yokoami, Sumida, Tokyo, Tokyo
The price is P4,727 per night from 20 Mar to 21 Mar
P4,727
P5,719 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 20 - Mar 21
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,265 reviews)
"very clean and safe"

Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025

APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
4 out of 5
1-19-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
Fully refundable
The price is P9,433 per night from 23 Mar to 24 Mar
P9,433
P11,414 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 23 - Mar 24
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and in-room massages. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,913 reviews)
"Everything about her stay here was great, check-in was easy, staff very helpful and accommodating, rooms were clean and the views were amazing. Rooms are a little small, but perfect enough for what you need. Not there to spend time in the room anyways. The bathrooms were large and tub was great! ..."

Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Shinjuku Washington Hotel Main
Shinjuku Washington Hotel Main
4 out of 5
3-2-9 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, 15 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
8/10 Very Good! (2,482 reviews)
Excellent
"I stay four nights in this hotel. Employees staff are very friendly and polite, good English. Excellent food. Because the Hotel is doing the ECO-FRIENDLY so the room floor carpet are a little bit dirty and old"

Reviewed on Mar 15, 2025

Shinjuku Washington Hotel Main
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
4 out of 5
2-7-1 Hanedakuko, Oota, Tokyo, Tokyo
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and hot springs on site. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (4,925 reviews)
"Large room"

Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025

Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
Shinagawa Prince Hotel
Shinagawa Prince Hotel
4 out of 5
4-10-30 Takanawa Minato-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
The price is P6,859 per night from 19 Mar to 20 Mar
P6,859
P8,526 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 19 - Mar 20
Book a stay at this family-friendly hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, 5 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (3,844 reviews)
"Ok"

Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025

Shinagawa Prince Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Kanda

Akihabara

Akihabara

While you're in Akihabara, take in top sights like Akihabara Electric Town and jump on the metro at Suehirocho Station to see more of the city.

Akihabara
Marunouchi featuring a high rise building, a city and a fountain

Marunouchi

You might take some time to check out the abundant dining options in Marunouchi. Spend some time visiting top spots like Imperial Garden Theatre, and catch the metro at Nijubashimae (Marunouchi) Station or Otemachi Station to see more of the area.

Marunouchi
Akihabara Electric Town which includes street scenes, a city and signage

Chiyoda

Enjoy the popular shops in Chiyoda. Nippon Budokan is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Kudanshita Station or Takebashi Station to see more of Tokyo.

Chiyoda
Ueno

Ueno

Travelers choose Ueno for its ample dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Ueno-okachimachi Station or Ueno-hirokoji Station and check out top sights like Ameyoko Shopping District.

Ueno
Ginza showing signage, street scenes and skyline

Ginza

Travelers love Ginza for its popular shops, and you can see more of Tokyo by jumping on the metro at Ginza Station or Higashi-ginza Station. You might spend time checking out top sights like Ginza Six and Mitsukoshi Ginza.

Ginza
Hamarikyu Garden which includes a pond and a park

Chuo

Known for its popular shops and top seafood restaurants, there's plenty to explore in Chuo. Check out top attractions like Tokyo Bay and Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph, and jump on the metro at Tsukiji Station or Shintomicho Station to see more of the city.

Chuo

Kanda