Click here for a map of the Kanda & Ochanomizu area
The Kanda - Ochanomizu were 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, pachiko parlours and adult shops. The area around the station is of little interest to short-term visitors.
Jimbocho 神保町
Click here for a map of the Jimbocho & Kudanshita area
Jimbocho is Tokyo's bookshop district. It is an academic district with lots of schools and two universities (Meiji and Nihon Daigaku) reaching as far as Ochanomizu station. The area therefore abounds with students. Jimbocho's bookshops offer everything from rare, antique book to hentai manga. Most od the shops are concentrated along the Yasukuni-dori and are small and privately owned.
Sanseido is the only big bookshop spreading a several floors. It is located at crossing of Yasukuni-dori and Meiji-dori. You will find plenty of English books (and some French and German ones too) at the 5th floor.
Ochanomizu 御茶ノ水
The place means "water of the tea" and takes its name after the river from which water was extracted to make the shogun's tea during the Edo period.
Ochanomizu is only the name of a station in Northern Kanda. Ochanomizu Station (both JR and Marunouchi lines) is convenient to access Yushima Confucian Shrine and Kanda Myojin.
Kanda Myojin 神田明神
Kanda Matsuri, Tokyo's second biggest traditional festival (after Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa) takes place early May at Kanda Myojin. In the Edo Era, it was one of the few "matsuri" allowed to enter the grounds of Edo Castle.
The shrine itself isn't so big, but its architecture and red and gold colour makes it quite attractive and reminds of a Chinese temple. Don't miss the entrance gate and the hundreds of lanterns in the main building.
Kanda Myojin was first established 1200 years ago in what is now Otemachi. It was moved to Kanda in 1616 and its deity was reverred to as the protector of Edo.
Kanda Myojin 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
Just North of Ochanomizu Station, "Yushima Seido" is a haven of peace in the heart of Tokyo. Its precincts are covered with lush vegetation closer to 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 Seido 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 Nyutoku-mon Gate burned to the ground in the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923.
Surrounding Areas :
Yushima - Nezu (North)
Ueno (North)
Kudanshita (West)
Otemachi - Marunouchi (South-West)
Nihombashi (South)
Akihabara (East)
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