From Akihabara via Kanda Myojin Shrine and Ochanomizu to the Kanda Used Book Town

Starting your walk from the Electric Town at JR Akihabara Station, make a visit to Kanda Myojin Shrine, which was revered as the guardian of all Edo. After viewing the Confucius temple at the nearby Yushima Seido, cross the Kanda River via Hijiri Bridge to reach Nikolai-do Cathedral. Finally, stroll through the Kanda Used Book Town in Jinbocho, browsing the shelves that vary from shop to shop.

History and Local Charm

On this route, the different faces of Tokyo across the Edo, Meiji, and postwar periods are gathered within easy walking distance.

The oldest site is Kanda Myojin Shrine. According to shrine records, it was founded in the 2nd year of the Tenpyo era (730) and relocated in the 2nd year of Genna (1616) to its current location, which served to protect against the unlucky northeast direction (omote-kimon) of Edo Castle. Throughout the Edo period, as the guardian of all Edo, it received deep devotion from the shogunate down to the common people of Edo. Just southwest in Yushima, the 5th Tokugawa shogun, Tsunayoshi, founded a sanctuary dedicated to Confucius in the 3rd year of Genroku (1690). In the 9th year of Kansei (1797), Shoheizaka Gakumonjo, a school under the direct control of the shogunate, was opened here.

In the Meiji period, the Ministry of Education and a normal school were established at Yushima Seido, making it the birthplace of modern education. Across the Kanda River via Hijiri Bridge, in Kanda Surugadai, Nikolai from Russia built a cathedral, which was completed in the 24th year of Meiji (1891). The Kanda Used Book Town in Jinbocho is also said to have begun when bookshops and secondhand bookstores opened to cater to students of the schools that were established one after another in the surrounding area during the Meiji period.

The Electric Town of Akihabara began with postwar street stalls. Vacuum tube and radio shops gathered beneath the railway tracks, and over time, the district evolved its focus to household appliances, personal computers, and anime to match the changing eras.

Major Highlights

• ​Akihabara​​: Under the elevated tracks of the JR Sobu Line, the Radio Center gathers small shops dealing in electronic parts. In front of the station, the Akihabara Radio Kaikan houses more than 30 specialty shops for hobbies, anime, figurines, and more. The name Akihabara originated after a fire-protection shrine enshrined following a major fire in the Meiji period was renamed Akiba Shrine.
• ​Kanda Myojin Shrine​​: Formally named Kanda Shrine, it is the guardian deity for 108 neighborhood associations, including Kanda, Nihonbashi, and Akihabara. Completed in the 9th year of Showa (1934), the vermilion-lacquered main hall is built of steel-framed reinforced concrete in the gongen-zukuri style and is a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property. Visitors can also see the Zuishinmon gate made of solid cypress and a 6.6-meter-tall stone statue of Daikoku-sama.
• ​Yushima Seido​​: Taiseiden Hall, which enshrines Confucius, is painted black both inside and outside; it was rebuilt in the 10th year of Showa (1935) following the Great Kanto Earthquake. On its roof are mythical creatures such as kiginto, which are said to ward off fires. Built in the 1st year of Hoei (1704), the Nyutokumon gate is the oldest building within the sanctuary grounds.
• ​Nikolai-do Cathedral​​: Officially named Tokyo Resurrection Cathedral of the Orthodox Church in Japan, this Orthodox cathedral is a National Important Cultural Property. Based primarily on Byzantine architecture, it features a central dome and a bell tower about 37.7 meters high. Although its appearance changed considerably during reconstruction after the Great Kanto Earthquake, the walls, except for the window frames, remain as originally built.
• ​Kanda Used Book Town​​: Centered around the intersection where Yasukuni-dori and Hakusan-dori Street meet, this is said to be one of the world's largest secondhand book quarters, gathering around 130 used bookstores. It is said that shops lining the south side of Yasukuni-dori face north to prevent books from being faded by the sun. Beginning with Takayama Honten, founded in the 8th year of Meiji (1875), each shop specializes in its own distinct field.

Recommended Route and Duration

The approximate time required is about 5 hours. Begin your walk from the Electric Town Exit of JR Akihabara Station. On Sunday afternoons, an approximately 570-meter stretch of Chuo-dori becomes a pedestrian-only zone. After walking through the Electric Town, head about 630 meters northwest to Kanda Myojin Shrine.

From Kanda Myojin Shrine, walk about 200 meters southwest to arrive at Yushima Seido. Both the main hall of Kanda Myojin Shrine and Taiseiden Hall of Yushima Seido were designed with the involvement of Ito Chuta. Compare the contrast between the vermilion lacquer and the black finish. Upon leaving Yushima Seido, cross the Kanda River via Hijiri Bridge and walk about 280 meters south to Nikolai-do Cathedral. The name Hijiri Bridge refers to a bridge connecting two sacred sanctuaries: Yushima Seido and Nikolai-do Cathedral. The interior of Nikolai-do Cathedral can also be visited, though viewings may be suspended on days with church services.

Walking about 670 meters west from Nikolai-do Cathedral brings you to Kanda Used Book Town. The book town extends for about 450 meters along Yasukuni-dori. Browse the shelves that catch your eye as you walk along the row of shops on the south side. For a break, there are long-established coffee shops such as Sabouru. Jinbocho Station is convenient for your return. If you visit between October and November, you may also encounter the Kanda Used Book Festival, where secondhand books line the sidewalks.

Experience Summary

From the bustle of the Electric Town to the guardian shrine of Edo, an Edo-period school, a Meiji-era cathedral, and finally a town of books. Faith, learning, and commerce have accumulated across different eras along this short route on both sides of the Kanda River. Reflect on these layered histories together with a book discovered in the secondhand shops.