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Updated: October 11, 2019

Explore Kagurazaka

A traditional Tokyo enclave that's sophisticated and genteel

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A traditional Tokyo enclave that's sophisticated and genteel

Neighbor to bustling Shinjuku, head to Kagurazaka and discover the discreet charms of one of Tokyo's oldest neighborhoods. Lined with traditional craft and souvenir shops, restaurants and sellers of Japanese confectioneries, the area's main sloping street once marked the outskirts of Edo Castle. Kagurazaka is a former prominent geisha entertainment district and remnants of this fascinating culture exist in its cobbled backstreets today.

General Tips

  • To navigate its cobbled pavements and sloped streets, comfortable shoes are a must
  • Kagurazaka boasts the largest concentration of French restaurants in Tokyo
  • Visit the area at dusk and you may be lucky enough to see a geisha

Map Legend

  • Walking
  • Taxi
  • Bus
  • Train
  • Water Bus

1

 

Your journey begins here

Kagurazaka Station

Reach Kagurazaka Station via the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and head to Exit 2.

Walking1 min

Akagi-jinja Shrine

2

Design is holy

Akagi-jinja Shrine

Kengo Kuma's touch is also apparent at this Shinto holy site, which the architect modernized in 2010. Pay your respects and admire the steel plate roofing that mimics traditional yamato-buki tiling before heading off for some lunch.

Walking3 mins

3

 

Where European charm and Japanese culture meet

French dining

Home to much of the French expat community, Kagurazaka is one of the best places in Tokyo to dine francais. You'll find everything from French pastries to backstreet bistros, along with Japan's first creperie and Michelin-starred restaurants.

Walking3 mins

Kakurenbo Yokocho

4

A taste of Kyoto's Gion in Tokyo

Kakurenbo Yokocho

Especially alluring at dusk, Kagurazaka's cobbled backstreets speak of the area's past. Wander this winding alleyway, lined with discreet high-end restaurants, to capture the essence of this former geisha district.

Walking2 mins

Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji Temple

5

A symbol of the neighborhood

Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji Temple

Veer back to the main street of Kagurazaka and you'll see the commanding red pillars of Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji Temple in your sights. Founded by shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa and relocated to its current location in the late 18th century, this temple is a Kagurazaka hub.

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