奉安殿 at Akihabara, Tokyo

A historic hoanden shrine structure on the Kanda Shrine grounds.

The Hoanden at Sotokanda 2-chome stands within the grounds of Kanda Shrine and is a relic of the pre-war hoanden tradition, in which schools and institutions enshrined portraits of the Emperor and Empress in a dedicated structure. Following Japan's defeat in 1945, GHQ-directed education ministry notices led to the removal of hoanden across the country, making surviving examples rare and historically significant. The structure sits near the shrine's Sannomiya sub-shrine on the quieter rear side of the precinct.

Visitors exploring Kanda Shrine's grounds can view the hoanden alongside the many commemorative stones and sub-shrines that trace the site's long Edo-to-modern history. Its presence offers a tangible connection to Japan's pre-war civic architecture and the sweeping changes that followed 1945.

Pause by this rare surviving hoanden during a cultural stroll around Kanda Shrine.
Official: https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/keidai