Nezu Shrine

Dating from 1706, Nezu Shrine is an excellent example of large scale Edo-era shrine architecture. Featuring superbly contrasting vermilion and gold lacquered ‘gongen-zukuri’ style buildings, its designation as an Important Cultural Property seems justified. Also competing for attention is ‘Tsutsuji-en’, a 2,000 tsubo (around 6,600 square metres) Japanese azalea garden in the shrine’s precincts. Housing around 50 varieties of 3,000 azaleas, the garden attracts numerous sightseers each spring. Trivia buffs take note: this venerable shrine was first established in Sendagi around 1,900 years ago, and only transferred to Nezu to commemorate the fifth shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa’s choosing of his successor.