Kanda is an area in downtown Tokyo located to the north of Chiyoda ward. It is served by the stations of Akihabara, Kanda, Ochanomizu, and Jimbocho, all of which are areas of interest.

Kanda Shrine, also called Kanda Myojin 神田明神, is one of the oldest shrines of Tokyo. It was founded in 730 and rebuilt many times. People traditionally pray at this shrine for business prosperity. It is the shrine of the Kanda Matsuri (Shinto festival), one of the three major ones in Tokyo.

If you happen to visit the Kanda area in May, you should check out the Kanada Matsuri of the Kanda Shrine that we have just introduced. Mikoshi (portable shrine) performance is the highlight of this event! More than 200 mikoshis are carried and enter Kanda Meijin. It is such a vibrant scene of event where inside the shrine gets really crowded with so many people. This Mikoshi performance happens all day long!

There are two other shrines that might be worth the visit in the area. One of them is the Yushima Tenjin Shrine. It is a peaceful oasis in the urban jungle of Tokyo. The shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity of scholarship. It has many plum trees on its premises, so if you happen to be from about the 10th of February to the 10th of March, you might be lucky enough to see the trees in full bloom.

Address: 3-30-1 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo

Yushima Seido is interestingly dedicated to the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It was originally a private temple and school of Confucianism until 1871.

Address: 1-4-25 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo

Jimbocho is an area of Kanda with a lot of character. It is not such a popular spot tourist spot but you will love it if you love quaint bookstores. Most of the books are in Japanese of course but the old stores are still worth the visit. Jimbocho is service by the Jimbocho Station.

Jimbocho is a good spot for old Showa Era-style cafes commonly known as kissaten in Japan. They serve premium coffee for about ¥500 a cup and generally served light meals and sweets. The one here is Kanda Coffee, a really nice one in the area. It's on the cheap side with drip coffees served for only ¥250 and has that great Jimbocho atmosphere.

Akihabara, otherwise known as "Electric Town", is at the center of the Kanda district. From shopping for cheap electronics or anime goods to going to themed cafes, there are so many things to do in this popular part of Tokyo that we made a guide just for Akihabara.

Ochanomizu is a part of Kanda that is best known for having a high concentration of shops selling second-hand music instruments. You can find anything cheap guitars and super rare vintage ones as well. To a lesser extent, it is also a popular place to find second-hand snowboard and ski gear.

Of the places in Kanda, the area around Kanda Station is definitely the best known for having many delicious restaurants. If you are in Akihabara, you might want to head south across the river to Kanda Station for a good meal, especially if you are looking for sushi.