Copyright © 2023 Tokyo in Pics | Powered by Tokyo in Pics
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases you make on this website.
Zojoji is beautiful. The temple is close to the heart of Tokyo in more ways than one. It is in the middle of the city and has influenced the city’s cultural and religious life for many years. During the Edo period, it was a vast complex. What remains today is smaller in size but is still an important place. A visit there can give you a glimpse of what it might have been like in its heyday. It can also get you some great photographs!
Walking into the grounds through the Sangedatsu gate gives me a thrill. In front of you will be the main hall of Zojoji, with Tokyo Tower behind, towering over it. It is a picturesque scene. The two seem to be in a strange kind of partnership! It is difficult not to have the Tower in any photos taken from that area! I take a shot or two of the famous pair every time I go.
By the way, Sangedatsu is one of the few original structures at Zojoji. It is huge and painted red. Passing through it is supposed to rid you of greed, hatred, and foolishness. I might have to walk through it a few more times, yet!
There is another gate, named Great Gate (or “Daimon”) in Japanese. It is about five hundred meters away from the entrance. Even though this one is a concrete reconstruction, it is popular for photos. Why? Because Tokyo Tower is visible in the background here too! It is a little special as further down the road is Daiichi-Keihin. Daiichi-Keihin is a road that follows the approximate route of the historical “Tokaido.” That was the main highway between Kyoto and Edo.
On the grounds, under the main hall, is a gallery. It houses a beautiful 1/10 scale model of the Taitokuin mausoleum that once existed on the grounds. The mausoleum housed the remains of the Shogun Hidetada Tokugawa. Unfortunately, the bombings of World War Two destroyed it in 1945. The miniature replica you’ll see is incredibly detailed. Some fantastic wall hangings surround it.
The temple even has two unique trees. Ulysses S. Grant (the 18th American president) planted one, and George H. W. Bush did the other. Near the trees is a memorial to the people who lost their lives in the Hotel New Japan fire in 1982.
The Zojoji-Tokyo Tower pairing is a classic Tokyo photograph. Thousands of people, including myself, have taken it many times. Unfortunately, a new building is now visible on the right side of the frame.
Some, including myself, consider the new structure a blemish on what was once a great photo. So what you can do, is try to hide it (to some extent). On the left side of the temple is a courtyard. If you take pictures there, the new building will be mostly hidden.
Zojoji Temple details
See the temple’s admission fees, opening hours, and location on the official website.
Wrapping up
For anyone wanting to photograph one of Tokyo’s most famous temples, Zojoji might be the place to go. It is big, beautiful and has many things to keep anyone with a camera happy. And you have Tokyo Tower in the background. While that view might not be what it once was, it still looks pretty good.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases you make on this website.
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |