Visiting the Best & most unique Tokyo Temples

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Japan is such a spiritual nation that it’s no surprise that shrines and temples are abundant across the country. You might expect only to find temples in the rural areas and countryside, but you’d be mistaken, as even bustling Tokyo has some of the best and most unique temples in Japan.

Not all of the temples are huge, lavish, architectural masterpieces, instead, some are smaller shrines with unique attributes that make them stand out from the otherwise oversaturated temple market.

Our list of unique temples in Tokyo showcases some of the best collections of statues, I’m talking foxes and cats for example. Let’s take a look below:

Country:	Japan
Currency:	Japanese Yen / JPY
Do you need a visa to visit as tourists?	Check here

Don’t forget to get travel insurance to cover you if something bad happens. One company I have personal experience with is Safety Wing. Not everyone needs the same coverage, so make sure you get a personalised quote that suits you and your trip plans.

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Getting around the city of Tokyo

I’ll be honest, usually, I advocate for renting a vehicle during a trip so you have full flexibility with transportation, but Tokyo is a city I’d say the opposite. The roads are extremely busy and hectic when trying to drive, and the public transportation system is so modern and convenient, that it’s easily the best option for getting around the city.

Similar to the London Oyster Card, Tokyo has a Suica transportation card which allows you to top up a monetary value onto it, and use it continuously when using buses and subways. You top up the card and can tap the card on the scanners each time you start and end a journey and only need to top up the card again once the value runs out.

This is a great way to stay on top of your budget as you’ll know what you’ve set aside for travel costs, and you won’t need to hunt for coins and exact change on every bus or train you get on.

You can order your own Suica card to collect from Haneda Airport using my link: Welcome Suica

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Gotokuji Cat Temple

Location: 2 Chome-24-7 Gotokuji, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0021

Ok, so this is by no means the biggest temple in Tokyo, but it’s certainly my favourite by a mile. As you step closer to this outdoor Edo period shrine you’ll turn a corner and be met with a sea of white cats. Thousands of these “lucky” beckoning white cat figurines line the wooden shelves throughout the temple grounds.

For each figurine you see sitting here, a wish was made by a past visitor. You can buy a small cat for yourself (there are multiple sizes to choose from) and either take it as a souvenir or make a wish and sit it somewhere throughout the temple grounds to see if the spirits grant the wish for you.

This is one of the best temples in Tokyo and is a must-see for cat and animal lovers!

For more information check out this post.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: 24 hours

Nanzo-in Temple with the tied-up statue

Location: 2 Chome-28-25 Higashimizumoto, Katsushika City, Tokyo 125-0033

This is yet another addition to our best and most unique temples found in Tokyo, and this one is added due to having a statue that is tied up. You’ll notice the human-sized statue (a bound Jizo) with hundreds of ropes tied around it. Well, each of these ropes was attached when someone came to pray and make a wish to the resident deity and edo leader Jizo Botatsu.

When worshippers have something to wish for they can put some money into the metal box, take a single rope to tie around Jizo, and then, if they were fortunate enough to have their wish fulfilled they can come back and untie one of the ropes at a later date.

If you’d like more information, read this post.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: 9 am – 4 pm

Toyokawa Inari Annex Fox Shrine

Location: 1 Chome-4-7 Motoakasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0051

This shrine has similarities to the Gotokuji Cat Temple above due to its many animal statues lining the sacred grounds. Instead of cats, however, this is one of the best temples with hundreds of stone foxes in Tokyo.

This is another addition to the list due to the uniqueness of the statues on display. It is both a Shinto shrine and a Sodo section Buddhist temple. The entire temple is dedicated to Inari Okami, a God of fertility, and many worshippers come and pray here when they are hoping to start a family of their own.

You’ll notice that some of the foxes have red “jackets,” too, which adds a pop of colour to an otherwise grey, stone temple.

For more information, check out this post.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: 5:30 am – 8 pm

1000 Kosodate Jizo-son (Garden of Unborn Children)

Location: 4 Chome-7-35 Shibakoen, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0011

Located just a short walk away from the famous Tokyo Tower, this temple is less quirky, and more meaningful than others listed. This temple is specifically for those who have or are mourning the loss of an infant.

Whether through miscarriage, or loss shortly after birth, this Shrine offers a place for people to honour and grieve their losses. You’ll notice each of the small statues of infants has a woolly hat, and clothing and some even have a windmill. These accessories help to keep the spirits of those lost warm in between visits.

It is a truly humbling shrine and a lovely gesture towards people who have lost someone special in their life

Admission: Free

Opening hours: 24 hours

Kanda Myoujin (Comic writers) shrine

Location: 2 Chome-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan

This small Shinto shrine in the heart of Chiyoda City is where comic and manga writers come to pray for success in their creative work. Although this Shrine looks just like most others, upon closer inspection you’ll see that there are colourful anime designs on the small wooden offerings scattered throughout the temple grounds.

The gate to the Shrine is stunning and an inviting sight, you’d never guess that the shine was as old as it was based on how well-maintained it has been kept. As well as seeing creative artwork and anime characters brightly coloured on the shelves, there is also a newly built souvenir shop and even a small restaurant on site for visitors to enjoy.

Check out my post for more information.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: 24 hours