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 S$596 per night from 24 Mar to 25 Mar
S$596
includes taxes & fees
24 Mar - 25 Mar
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! (2,106 reviews)
Keio Plaza Hotel Stay
"The staff are amazing at every point of the stay. The room was quite comfortable and amenities were plentiful. Food was delicious. This is a prime location for transportation access along with limo bus use. My only point of improvement, and it’s minor at best, if using the 47th floor lounge to relax, ..."

Reviewed on 17 Mar,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 S$114 per night from 20 Mar to 21 Mar
S$114
includes taxes & fees
20 Mar - 21 Mar
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! (4,264 reviews)
"very clean and safe"

Reviewed on 16 Mar,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
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! (2,899 reviews)
Great location
"The hotel itself is a landmark in shinjuku. It is very convenient and easy to access. Since it is located in Kabukicho, it is always busy and we are able to find food late at night. The room is small but I believe it is the norm in Shinjuku. Nice bathroom for soaking after long walking days. Staff ..."

Reviewed on 14 Mar,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! (2,480 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 15 Mar,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
The price is S$202 per night from 18 Mar to 19 Mar
S$202
includes taxes & fees
18 Mar - 19 Mar
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 16 Mar,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 S$200 per night from 23 Mar to 24 Mar
S$200
includes taxes & fees
23 Mar - 24 Mar
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! (3,851 reviews)
"Great location and service."

Reviewed on 17 Mar,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

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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 which includes a city, a high-rise building and a fountain

Marunouchi

4/5(9 area reviews)

Travellers choose Marunouchi for its ample dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Nijubashimae (Marunouchi) Station or Otemachi Station and check out top sights like Imperial Garden Theatre.

Marunouchi
Akihabara Electric Town showing signage, street scenes and a city

Chiyoda

4.5/5(178 area reviews)

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
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Ueno

4.5/5(87 area reviews)

Travellers 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 featuring a city, skyline and street scenes

Ginza

4.5/5(84 area reviews)

Enjoy the popular shops in Ginza. Ginza Six is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Ginza Station or Higashi-ginza Station to see more of Tokyo.

Ginza
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Chuo

4.5/5(140 area reviews)

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