Kanda

Tokyo
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


Kanda Hotel Deals

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
4 out of 5
1-19-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
Fully refundable
The price is CA $231 per night from Apr. 14 to Apr. 15
CA $231
CA $284 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 14 - Apr 15
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and in-room massages. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,292 reviews)
"Best area to stay in very lively. Close to mostly everything I always stay here when I come to Japan this is my 4th time staying here"

Reviewed on Mar. 28, 2024

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
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 CA $90 per night from Apr. 23 to Apr. 24
CA $90
CA $109 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 23 - Apr 24
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and breakfast. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,660 reviews)
"Very close to station and food options. Unfortunately didnt get to see any sumo matches this time. If youre trying to do that i would look ahead of time. The elevators are reallly slow in this building 😂"

Reviewed on Mar. 25, 2024

APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower
Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku
Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku
3 out of 5
2-3-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
The price is CA $252 per night from Apr. 25 to Apr. 26
CA $252
CA $277 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 25 - Apr 26
Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,114 reviews)
"Close location to the main station! Very comfortable and storage area under the bed. Easy check-in and out (kiosk with multiple languages available). Lots of bathroom amenities available."

Reviewed on Mar. 23, 2024

Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku
Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo
Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo
3.5 out of 5
1-2-2 Kinshi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
The price is CA $153 per night from Apr. 25 to Apr. 26
CA $153
CA $185 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 25 - Apr 26
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, 3 restaurants, and breakfast. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,506 reviews)
Totally recommend
"Very happy with our stay. We arrived early and they stored our bags while we were out exploring. When we came back, our bags were waiting for us in our room. Location was great- close to train station and many shopping and dining options. When figuring out how to get to the airport for our flight ..."

Reviewed on Mar. 27, 2024

Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo
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 CA $324 per night from Apr. 6 to Apr. 7
CA $324
CA $356 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 6 - Apr 7
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 restaurant in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,051 reviews)
"Guest pajamas, slippers toothbrush and toothpaste were much appreciated"

Reviewed on Mar. 26, 2024

Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel
Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel
4 out of 5
2-8-16 Shiomi, Tokyo, Tokyo
The price is CA $264 per night from Apr. 21 to Apr. 22
CA $264
CA $328 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 21 - Apr 22
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (910 reviews)
"The property was located close to the train for easy travel, very clean and enjoyable stay"

Reviewed on Mar. 27, 2024

Tokyo Bay Shiomi 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

5/5(12 area reviews)

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

Marunouchi
Chiyoda featuring kayaking or canoeing, a river or creek and wildflowers

Chiyoda

4.5/5(194 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
Ueno

Ueno

4.5/5(46 area reviews)

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 Ueno Park.

Ueno
Ginza showing signage, street scenes and skyline

Ginza

4.5/5(92 area reviews)

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 Yamaha Hall.

Ginza
Hamarikyu Garden which includes a pond and a park

Chuo

4.5/5(196 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

Choose two or more items and save on your trip: