If the crowds at Akihabara wear down on you, a quick walk westwards will take you to Yushima Seido - a striking Confucian temple. The grounds are peaceful and a little overgrown, making it a lovely escape from the crowds.
Yushima Seido - image © Florentyna Leow
Dating back to the Edo period (1603-1868), Yushima Seido is a Confucian temple located in the Yushima district near Akihabara. Confucianism is a philosophical import from China, and the existence of Yushima Seido today is testament to one of the ways in which Chinese history and culture influenced and contributed to Japanese culture throughout history.
Yushima Seido - image © Florentyna Leow
The temple is known primarily as a training school for Tokugawa officials during the Edo period. Its buildings burned down several times across the centuries, and the present structure is made of reinforced concrete rather than wood, in response to the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.
The temple grounds are rather overgrown at first glance, but enter and explore further and you'll find that it's a lovely green escape from the hustle and bustle of nearby Akihabara. Except for the main hall, entry to the grounds is free, so there's no reason you shouldn't stop by if you're in the area.
English name:
Yushima Seido
Japanese name:
湯島聖堂
English address:
1-4-25 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034
Japanese address:
〒113-0034 東京都文京区湯島1-4-25
Opening hours:
April-September: 9:30am-5pm
October-March: 9:30am-4pm
Admission:
Grounds: free
Taiseiden (the main hall, opened on Saturday, Sunday and national holidays): 200
Nearest Transport:
Subway: 1-minute walk from exit 2 of Ochanomizu Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line.
Train: 2-minute walk from the Hijiri-bashi exit of Ochanomizu Station on the JR Chuo and Sobu lines.
Nearest Hotels:
:: Check availability and pricing for hotels near Yushima Seido on Booking.com or Agoda.com.
Telephone:
+81-3-3251-4606
Website:
Official Website (Japanese)
Near To Here:
Yushima Seido is located in Tokyo's Akihabara, Kanda And Jimbocho districts. See our complete list of things to do in Tokyo's Akihabara, Kanda And Jimbocho districts, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
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