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Holy Resurrection Cathedral – beautiful Tokyo architecture
The Holy Resurrection Cathedral is another of Tokyo’s hidden gems. It hides in the backstreets near Ochanomizu Station. This Eastern Orthodox church offers a blend of spiritual solace and old-world splendor. It is a must-visit destination for photographers with an interest in architecture.
A brief history of Holy Resurrection Cathedral
Locals refer to the building as “Nicolai-do” after its founder, St. Nicholas Kasatkin. Nicholas came to Japan in 1861 and was a priest at the Russian consulate in Hokkaido. Through him, the Eastern Orthodox Church entered the country. In 1870, he moved to Tokyo and worked hard to grow his congregation. It is still active today.
Nicholas commissioned Dr. Michael A. Shchurupov to plan the edifice. He also used my favorite Tokyo architect Josiah Conder to design it. This centerpiece of the Japanese Orthodox Church was completed in 1891. In its early years, several misfortunes befell it, including a belfry collapse. The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 caused some severe damage as well. Luckily, it still stands today.
The building is in the Byzantine style, which was different for Tokyo back in the day. In the early 20th century, you could even see the Imperial Palace from it. Now, tall buildings block that view.
Conder and Shchurupov probably received divine inspiration to create the Holy Resurrection Cathedral. It is beautiful. The detail in the stonework is incredible. We should consider ourselves lucky that it still stands.
Why do I like the cathedral?
- It’s historic! The building and the people who made it influenced Tokyo. Conder’s influence is well known, but Kasatkin to a lesser degree. He gained much respect through his efforts in the Russo-Japanese War.
- Some of the stained glass artwork is amazing.
- I’m a fan of anything Josiah Conder made.
- The building is beautiful. It is unique in Tokyo.
Tips for photographing the Holy Resurrection Cathedral
- The courtyard area is cramped. You’ll need a wide-angle lens to photograph it in its entirety. Or, you could take several photos and stitch them together in post.
- It’s no problem if you don’t have a wide-angle lens. You could use a longer one to photograph from over the road (check the map for positions).
- Longer lenses are useful for zooming on building details.
- Shadows will be problematic. The church has tall buildings on two sides. Plan your photo shoot accordingly for sunlight.
- Photography is not allowed inside the church.
Where is the Holy Resurrection Church in Tokyo?
The church is only a short walk from Ochanomizu and Shin-Ochanomizu Stations. The building’s dome can be seen from many areas, so it should (hopefully) be easy to find!
Address: 4-1-3 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Here it is on Google Maps:
Opening hours
The cathedral is open to the public for the following times:
- from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. during the winter (from October to March).
- From 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. during the summer (April to September).
Entry fees
¥300
Conclusion
I don’t know Holy Resurrection Cathedral well, so I was a little lost for these photos. How should I photograph it? As you can see from the pictures, the biggest problem is that tall buildings surround it. That puts at least two sides of it in shadow for most of the day.
In the end, I decided to photograph it around noon. That would give me good light. Well, I didn’t get anything epic, but they were good enough. Next time, I might try for something around golden hour. That might work well.
The problem though, is the front of the building. The gates close very early, around 4 o’clock. But, you can still do the domes from outside.
Once you finish at the cathedral, there is more near to photograph. Only a short walk away are:
- Guitar Street
- Kanda Myojin
- Yushima Seido
If architecture and churches interest you, Holy Resurrection Cathedral is a great place! You can enter the building for a small fee, provided no religious services are scheduled. Unfortunately, photography is forbidden inside.
One last thing. St. Nicholas Kasatkin passed away in Tokyo. His grave is at Yanaka Cemetery.
External related websites:
- Tokyo Resurrection Cathedral (official website)
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