Hie Shrine
Cost
free
Attractions > Tokyo > Shrines Temples > Akasaka
About | Access | Hotels & Lodging | Hours & Fees
Hie Shrine near Akasaka in Tokyo Japan
About
Hie Shrine is a Shrinto shrine in the Akasaka area of Tokyo. It sits up on a tree covered hilltop between the neighborhoods of Akasaka and Nagatacho and is one of the major shrines in Tokyo. The back entrance to the shrine is especially pleasing to the eye as the path is lined with 90 red Tori Gates. Originally built in 1478 as the "Protector of Edo Castle" Tokugawa Ieyasu moved the shrine inside the castle walls at once point but then his son Tokugawa Hidetada moved it back outside the walls so that the public could visit the shrine. The original complex was destroyed in the Meireki fire of 1657 (which also destroyed the massive Edo Castle) and after being rebuilt was also destroyed in WW2. The current structure was completed in 1958.
In June Hie Shrine hosts a very popular Japanese Festival called the Sanno Matsuri. The Sanno Matsuri is a very "lively" festival with dancing, music and the carrying of Mikoshi. Up to 300 people participate in the Sanno Matsuri and dress up in ancient wear. Thousands of other come to watch and join the festival as it is a very popular thing to do for those living in Tokyo. Hie Shrine is not a "must visit" destination if you are on a "once-in-a-lifetime" trip to Japan but if you are staying in the Akasaka area it's definitely worth a stop by. Hie Shrine is a peaceful and beautiful shrine that sits smack-dab between skyscrapers... something you wouldn’t have expected it to be there. Don't forget to walk down (or up) the back entrance through the Tori Gates as it is a beautiful little path.
Access
Closest Train Station: Akasaka-Mitsuke
2-10-5 Nagatacho
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0014 Japan
Short 5-10 min. walk from Akasaka-Mitsuke toward the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The Shrine is right next to the Capitol Hotel Tokyo, a 5 star high-end hotel in the Akasaka area.
Hotels & Lodging
Recommended
View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Hie Shrine.
Hours & Fees
Hours: The grounds of Shrines and Temples are generally open 27/7, 365 days a year but, many set their own hours. If hours are set, they are generally open from 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. in the morning and close around 4:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. in the evening.
Cost: The general grounds of Shrines and Temples are free but may charge a small fee (a couple/few hundred yen) for special gardens, exhibitions, artifact viewing, etc.
Information presented is based on the time it was created. There may be changes since publication. Please confirm information by visiting the Official Website before visiting.
Resources
Website: Hie Shrine Homepage
