Tokyo / Akihabara & Kanda / Architecture

Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Nikolai-do)

ニコライ堂（東京復活大聖堂） にこらいどう

The green-domed Russian Orthodox cathedral of 1891 on the Ochanomizu ridge, with its bells still rung by hand.

For a second visitArchitecture · History · Quiet

The cathedral was built by the Russian missionary Nikolai on the highest ground in the city, so that its dome would be seen from everywhere; the earthquake of 1923 brought the dome down and the rebuilt version is lower, but the Byzantine brick and the green copper are as he intended. Inside is a full Orthodox iconostasis, incense, and a silence that Tokyo rarely offers. Visitors may enter in the afternoons; the bells are rung before the Saturday evening and Sunday morning services and can be heard across Kanda.

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A hand-drawn sketch for orientation — each place links to an exact map.
Tip
Cover shoulders and knees, and do not photograph inside; a small donation is asked at the door.
Best time
Weekday afternoon; Saturday at dusk for the bells.
Allow
30 min
Station
Ochanomizu (JR / Marunouchi line) or Shin-Ochanomizu (Chiyoda line), 2 minutes
Official site — hours, prices, closures
nikolaido.org · Map

Appears in

In this area: Akihabara & Kanda

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