Photo By: Yoshizumi Endo
Region
Kanto
Island
Honshu
Largest City
Tokyo
Population
12,059,237

Kameido Tenjin Shrine

Let the scent of chrysanthemums take you back in time.

  • 2019 Kameido Tenjin Shrine Chrysanthemum Festival Dates: Oct. 23 to Nov. depending on how long the flowers stay in bloom.
For weeping wisteria in the spring and blossoming chrysanthemums to brighten up your autumn, this beautiful shrine in downtown Tokyo is a must-visit.

Built in 1661, Kameido Tenjin Shrine is located in Tokyo’s Koto Ward in a sleepy, downtown area known as shitamachi (traditional area). The shrine is an integral part of local life, and if you’re lucky enough, you might catch a Japanese wedding ceremony or blessings of pregnant women and newborns being performed there.

Kameido_Tenjin_Shrine

Photo by: Manish Prabhune This is probably the No. 1 spot to go see wisteria in the spring/early summer.

The shrine, with its signature red bridge and scenic seasonal flowers, is also a place of worship for the Shinto god of learning. The three bridges leading to the main shrine are said to represent life, with the onnabashi (woman’s bridge), otokobashi (men’s bridge), and hirabashi. The picturesque arches represent the future, past, and present, respectively.

The kame in Kameido means turtle in Japanese, and you will see plenty of them sunbathing in the shrine’s pond. Watch these cute reptiles as you take in the shrine’s architecture and wisteria trellises.

Seasonal festivals and flowers

Visit in winter, and you will see Japanese students braving the cold and feverishly writing on ema (wish boards), eager to ace their entrance exams and get accepted to their school of choice. Wish them a heartfelt “Ganbatte!” (“Good luck!”) to lift their spirits.

Visit in summer for Reitaisai, the main festival of the shrine held in late August every four years.

Photo by: Hotel Asia Center Storybook type scenery!

A picturesque temple with stunning views of Tokyo Sky Tree, Kameido Tenjin truly comes alive during Golden Week, a Japanese holiday every May, when its wisteria bloom for the Wisteria Festival. Be sure to bring your camera because the azalea shrubs complement the pale color of the wisteria petals, giving you the perfect background for a selfie. Expect crowds during Golden Week, but rest assured that you will have ample opportunity to maneuver around the grounds day or night, as the wisteria is lit up at night for evening visitors.

Kameido Tenjin Shrine Chrysanthemum Festival

Photo by: sigusr0 The Chrysanthemum Festival in late October isn’t as popular as the Wisteria Festival, but the flowers are just as gorgeous.

While the shrine’s main festival is during Golden Week, Kameido Tenjin Shrine also has a Plum Festival in February and Chrysanthemum Festival in October. Once you’ve toured the grounds of Kameido Tenjin, head to the nearby Japanese confectionery shop, Funabashiya, to try their famous kudzu mochi and other traditional sweets.

Dig Japanese shrines? Read more on where to find them!

Things To Know

This temple has beauty nearly year round, with different flowers blooming each season. In fall, typically from the end of Nov., catch the Chrysanthemums. In winter, from mid-Feb., catch the blooming plum blossoms. And in summer, typically from June, catch the hanging wisteria.

How To Get There

Address

3 Chome-6-1 Kameido, Koto, Tokyo 136-0071, Japan

By train

Kameido Tenjin is a 15 minute walk from Kameido station on the JR Sobu Local line.

By car

Near the Kameido Tenjin-mae stop on the Tokyo Metropolitan Bus.


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