During the Tokugawa shogunate, the Kanda district used to lie at the heart of Edo and constituted the "uptown" (as opposed to "shitamachi" areas like Asakusa), where nobles and rich businessmen lived, close to the Imperial palace.

It is now a mixed of business district, universities, shrines, pachinko parlours and adult shops. The area around Kanda station itself is of little interest to short-term visitors. Most of the sights are located around Ochanomizu station, in northern Kanda.

Ochanomizu 御茶ノ水

Ochanomizu (literally "tea water") is the name of a station in the northern part of the Kanda neighbourhood. Ochanomizu is not in itself an official district nor a postal address. The area covers the districts of Kanda-Surugadai (神田駿河台) and Soto-Kanda (外神田).

The place was named after the river from which water was extracted to make the shōgun's tea during the Edo period.

Three attractions in Kanda can be conveniently accessed from Ochanomizu Station (either JR Yamanote line and Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line): the Kanda Myōjin Shrine, the Yushima Confucian Shrine, and the Nikorai-dō.

Kanda Myōjin 神田明神

The Kanda Matsuri, Tokyo's second biggest traditional festival (after the Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa) takes place early May at the Kanda Myōjin. During the Edo era, it was one of the few "matsuri" allowed to enter the grounds of Edo Castle.

The shrine itself isn't particularly big, but its architecture and red and gold colour makes it quite attractive and slightly reminiscent of a Chinese temple. Don't miss the grand entrance gate and the hundreds of lanterns in the main building.

Kanda Myōjin was first established 1200 years ago in what is now Ōtemachi. It was moved to Kanda in 1616 and its deity was revered as the protector of Edo.

Kanda Myōjin Shrine is located in Soto-Kanda (across the river), between Ochanomizu and Akihabara JR Stations (see map below).

Yushima Confucian Shrine 湯島聖堂

Immediately north of Ochanomizu Station, you will reach Yushima Seidō, a haven of peace in the heart of Tokyo. Its precincts are covered with lush vegetation resembling more a jungle than a park. A statue of the Chinese philosopher Confucius greets the visitors. The shrine itself is composed of the large and dark Taisei-den Hall (大成殿) facing a colonnaded courtyard. Statues of lions ornate the imposing copper roof.

Yushima Seidō was establised in 1690 by the Edo government as a place to study Confucianism. It was the first place of higher education in Japan. Unfortunately, all the buildings but the Nyūtoku-mon Gate burned to the ground in the Great Kantō Earthquake in 1923.

Holy Resurrection Cathedral 復活大聖堂

100 metres south of Ochanomizu station is the main cathedral of the Japanese Orthodox Church, commonly referred to as Nikorai-dō. It was founded by Petrovich Rezanov Nikolai (1838-1912), later St. Nicholas of Japan. The Cathedral was completed on March 8, 1891, after 7 years of construction. Badly damaged during the 1923 Kantō Earthquake, the cathedral was rebuilt in 1929.

Jimbochō 神保町

Click here for a map of the Jimbochō & Kudanshita area

Jimbochō is Tokyo's bookshop district. Like Ochanomizu it is only a station name, serving western Kanda. It is an academic neighbourhood with lots of schools and two universities (Meiji Daigaku and Nihon Daigaku) reaching as far as Ochanomizu station. The area therefore abounds with students. Jimbochō's bookshops offer everything from rare, antique books to hentai manga. Most of the shops are concentrated along the Yasukuni-dōri Avenue and are small and privately owned.

Sanseidō is the only big bookshop spreading a several floors. It is located at crossing of Yasukuni-dōri and Meiji-dōri Avenues. You will find plenty of English books (and some French and German ones too) at the 5th floor.

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