Kanei-ji
Cost
free
Attractions > Tokyo > Shrines Temples > Ueno
About | Access | Hotels & Lodging | Hours & Fees
Kanei-ji Temple in near Ueno in Tokyo Japan by Kakidai (CC BY-SA 3.0)
About
Founded in 1625, Kaneji Temple is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai Sect. The temple was meant to emulate the powerful Enryakuji temple in Kyoto. Kaneiji Temple is extremely significant because it was only one of two temples that acted as the funeral temple for Shoguns, and was the spot of one of the biggest and final battles that put an end to Shogun rule. During it's heyday the temple grounds were huge, covering all of Ueno Park and even the station area. Consisting of over 30 buildings at that time the temple had great power, wealth and prestige. Out of the 15 Tokugawa Shoguns, 6 are buried here.
Some of the structures of Kaneiji were destroyed and subsequently rebuilt during various fires throughout the ages but what really did the temple in was "The Battle of Ueno", during the Boshin War (a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between the ruling Shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the Emperor). However, 2 original building still remain... the "Tosho Gu" shrine (which is in the middle of Ueno Park, see "Ueno Park" and the map on that page) and the "five-story pagoda" stand as they did since the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Kaneji Temple is near Ueno Park. See Ueno Park for more nearby attractions.
Access
Closest Train Station: Ueno
1 Chome-14-11 Uenosakuragi
Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0002 Japan
Kaneiji Temple is at the very north end of Ueno Park (actually outside the park behind the Tokyo National Museum). Ueno Park is right next to Ueno Station. Its about a 15-20 min. walk from the station to the temple.
Hotels & Lodging
Recommended
View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Kanei-ji.
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.
