Zōjō-ji Temple

Address: Zōjō-ji (Zojo-ji), 4-7-35 Shibakoen, Minato, Tokyo, Japan

Website: https://www.zojoji.or.jp/

Hours: Temple grounds typically open daily; inner halls and museum areas vary (check local listings)

Admission: Free (temple grounds); special displays or events may have small fees

Zōjō-ji is a major Buddhist temple in Minato, Tokyo, located within Shiba Park near Tokyo Tower and established in the late 14th century (traditionally 1393). It served as a principal temple for the Tokugawa family during the Edo period and contains important historic structures and graves.

On-site landmarks include the large wooden gate known as Sangedatsumon (built 1622), the main worship hall and the temple cemetery where members of the Tokugawa family are interred. The temple grounds are a frequent stop for visitors combining cultural sightseeing with views of nearby Tokyo Tower.

Zōjō-ji was established in the medieval period and later became strongly associated with the Tokugawa shogunate after 1600, which sponsored construction and expansion. Several Edo-period buildings survive, though parts of the complex were rebuilt or restored in subsequent centuries.

The temple is located in central Tokyo’s Minato ward, adjacent to Shiba Park and directly south of Tokyo Tower, within easy walking distance of Hamamatsucho and Onarimon stations.

• Historic gate (1622): The Sangedatsumon gate dates to 1622 and is a surviving early-Edo period wooden structure of high cultural value.
• Central Tokyo location: The temple lies immediately south of Tokyo Tower and is easily reached from Hamamatsucho and Onarimon stations on the Tokyo transport network.

What to See#

• Sangedatsumon (main gate): A large two-story gate built in 1622 that stands at the temple entrance and is one of the surviving pre-modern wooden structures on the site.
• Main hall and temple precinct: The main worship hall and adjacent temple buildings located within Shiba Park, set close to Tokyo Tower and containing altars and regular Buddhist services.
• Tokugawa graves and cemetery: The temple cemetery and Tokugawa family graves, historically linked with the Tokugawa shogunate and visible as monuments within the grounds.

Zojo-ji is a 5-10 minute walk from Hamamatsucho Station (JR and Tokyo Monorail) or a short walk from Onarimon Station (Toei Mita Line). Tokyo Tower is adjacent; follow signs from the station.

• Visit the family graves and the temple garden in the quieter late afternoon hours when fewer tourists are present.
• Respect temple signage and footwear rules; some inner halls require visitors to remove shoes or to be silent.
• Pair a visit with a walk to nearby Tokyo Tower-the contrast between old temple and modern tower is striking within a short distance.