Originally constructed near what is now Tokyo's Otemachi district, Kanda Myojin was relocated to the Kanda area around 1600 before being moved again in 1616 to its current site on a small hill in Akihabara. Over the centuries, the shrine underwent multiple restorations and reconstructions. However, after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, it was rebuilt using concrete, which enabled it to withstand the firebombing of Tokyo during World War II.

In 1995, the Zuishin-mon gate, which marks the entrance to the shrine, was rebuilt. Painted a brilliant vermillion and crafted from Japanese cypress, its roof features the traditional Irimoya-zukuri architectural style.

If you look closely, you’ll notice four Taoist gods represented on the gate: the white tiger, red phoenix, black turtle, and blue dragon.

Passing through the gate, you can explore the shrine grounds, including nine smaller shrines that are part of Kanda Myojin itself.

Further renovation work took place in 2005, with the construction of the new Hou-ou-den (Phoenix Hall) and Soreisha (Shrine for Ancestral Spirits).

As one of Tokyo’s oldest shrines, with a history spanning nearly 1,300 years, Kanda Myojin enshrines the deities Daikokuten, Ebisu, and Taira no Masakado.

These revered deities are the guardians of Tokyo’s 108 neighborhoods, including Akihabara, Kanda, Nihombashi, Marunouchi, and Tsukiji.

Prayers at the shrine are primarily focused on prosperity and success in business, harmonious marriages, family happiness, recovery from illness, and protection against disasters, among other blessings.

Held on the Saturday and Sunday closest to May 15th in odd-numbered years, the Kanda Matsuri (Kanda Festival) traces its roots back to the early 17th century. The festival was established in 1600, the year Tokugawa Ieyasu celebrated his victory at the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara, which marked the beginning of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Edo period in Japan. Originally held as a symbol of the shogunate's prosperity, the festival has endured for centuries.

During the festivities, imperial palanquins and portable shrines, known as mikoshi, are paraded through the neighborhood. Thousands of spectators gather to witness the lively procession, which includes machi-mikoshi—portable shrines belonging to specific neighborhoods—being carried through their respective areas.

The celebration culminates with all the mikoshi returning to Kanda Myojin, where they are blessed and purified by the shrine’s deities, bringing the vibrant event to a meaningful close.

In recent years, Kanda Myojin has experienced a resurgence in popularity, thanks to an unexpected source. During the 2010s, the popular anime Love Live!—a series about a group of fictional girls forming an idol group to save their school—featured the shrine prominently.

Nozomi Tojo, one of the main characters, is depicted as a shrine maiden at Kanda Myojin, with scenes of the shrine appearing throughout the animation. Seizing the opportunity to attract a younger generation of visitors, the shrine began producing ema (wooden prayer tablets) featuring Love Live! characters. Since then, patronage to Kanda Myojin has grown significantly, drawing curious travelers and anime fans (otaku) alike.

While anime tie-ins may seem surprising at a traditional Japanese shrine, Kanda Myojin also offers other unique items that reflect its proximity to Akihabara’s Electric Town—Tokyo’s hub for IT and electronics. Among these are IT-themed charms, designed to look like printed circuit boards. These charms come with stickers that can be placed on your wallet, computer, or phone to offer protection.

For those unable to visit the shrine in person, Kanda Myojin even provides downloadable stickers for the LINE chat application.

By evolving with the times and embracing progressive ideas, Kanda Myojin has managed to stay both relevant and beloved in modern-day Japan and beyond.

Aside from appreciating the many great works of art and the beautifully drawn ema throughout the shrine, don't miss an opportunity to say a prayer at the main shrine. Once you are done, you can receive an omikuji (fortune) and pick up a special charm from their wide selection. There are charms for success in business, marriage, sports, and more.

We here at Live Japan hope you have a pleasant visit to Kanda Myojin and are able to enjoy its unique appeal. If you take pictures there, make sure to tag them with #LiveJapan and share them with us on Instagram [@LiveJapan_Official] and Twitter [@LiveJapanGuide]!

Kanda Myojin can be reached via a 10 minute walk from the JR Akihabara station or a 5-minute walk from either Tokyo Metro’s Suehirocho station or Ochanomizu station.