Planning a trip to Tokyo soon? Or perhaps you've been wanting to explore this amazing city but are a bit worried about finding places where you can pray while you're out and about? Well, never fear, because we have rounded up a whole list of places located near popular attractions in Tokyo where you'll be able to perform your prayers! ?
Credit: Giphy
#HHWT Tip: You can also find prayer spaces using our HHWT App (available on Apple and Google Play for Android)! You can use the app to find prayer spaces around Tokyo, and other cities such as Kyoto, Osaka, Seoul, and more! You can also use it to look up halal places to eat as well as things to do ?
For this list, we've divided it by area (such as Harajuku, Shibuya) and noted attractions which are located nearby.
Harajuku
1. Harajuku Tourist Information Centre (close to Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park and Takeshita Street)
Conveniently located right in front of Harajuku Station, the Harajuku Tourist Information Centre now has an area where you can pray. You'll be able to explore all the attractions this Kawaii capital has to offer (which include the Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park!), and won't have to worry about where to do your prayers.
Credit: @halalmediajapan on Instagram
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm
Address: Harajuku Ash Building 1F 1-19-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo Skytree
2. Sekai Cafe Oshiage
After checking out the magnificent views of Tokyo from the world-famous Tokyo Skytree, why not grab a meal and perform your prayers at Sekai Cafe Oshiage? Sekai Cafe has two outlets, one in Asakusa and one in Oshiage! Offering delicious halal and also vegetarian meals, the Oshiage outlet is located less than a 5-minute walk from Tokyo Skytree, and has a room for customers to perform their prayers.
Opening hours: Wed - Mon (7.30am - 6pm), closed on Tue
Address: Narihira, 2−16 -8, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea
3. Main Street House and Guest Relations desk
Planning an outing to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea? Drop by the Main Street House and Guest Relations desk respectively (both located near the main entrances) and ask the friendly staff there, who'll be able to direct you to rooms available for you to perform your prayers! Do remember to bring your own prayer mat, Qibla compass and garments.
Tokyo Station
4. Prayer room at JR East Travel Service Center
If you're passing through Tokyo Station (Japan's busiest station and main intercity terminal), there is a prayer room located at the JR East Travel Service Center at the Marunouchi North Gate of the Tokyo Station building. The room is equipped with facilities for taking wudhu'.
Credit: Japan Station
Opening hours: Weekdays (8.30am - 7pm); weekends (8.30am - 5pm)
Address: 1 Chome-9 Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
Asakusa
5. Darul Arqam Masjid (also known as Asakusa Mosque)
An area of Tokyo filled with beautiful traditional streets (where you can wear a kimono!), the Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise shopping street, and halal food places, Asakusa is a must-visit! And there are also plenty of places where you can drop by to perform your prayers.
Located about a 10-15 minute walk away from Asakusa Station and Senso-ji temple, there us the Darul Arqam Masjid (also known as Asakusa Mosque).
Credit: @yeni_23.01 on Instagram
Address: 1 Chome-9-12 Higashiasakusa, Taitō-ku, Tōkyō-to 111-0025, Japan
Asakusa also has several restaurants that cater to Muslim customers, with halal food and prayer spaces! Check out this handy map done by Halal Media Japan that lists restaurants that are halal/Muslim-friendly which notes those that have prayer spaces (though please note that this version was updated as of August 2018).
Shibuya
6. Shibuya Mosque (close to Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya 109)
A trip to Tokyo (especially for first-timers) is never complete without visiting Shibuya Crossing. Shibuya Mosque (also known as Shibuya) Musolla is handily located nearby, so you can pop in to perform your prayers while exploring this fascinating part of town. Please do note that the musolla is an apartment unit that has been converted into a prayer space (with the apartment bathroom as the ablution area), hence it is a small area (max. capacity of about 20 people). However, the convenience of the location can't be beat, with the musolla being a 5-minute walk from Shibuya Crossing and a 15-minute walk from popular departmental store Shibuya 109.
Credit: @nopalrahman on Instagram
Address: 11th Floor Room 1107, 2 Chrome 15-1 Noa Dogenzaka, Shibuya 150-0043 (take the elevator to the 11th floor).
7. Tokyo Camii (also known as Tokyo Mosque)
Credit: @charliesan on Instagram
While this mosque is located slightly further away from the main attractions in Shibuya, it is worth the trip to see the largest mosque in Japan. If you're looking for a larger, more comfortable area of worship in the city, this is the place for you! Built in the Turkish style with an adjoining Turkish cultural centre, this beautiful mosque is located just a 5 to 10-minute walk away from Yoyogi-Uehara station. If you attend the Friday prayers conducted at the mosque, the sermon is delivered in up to three languages - Japanese, Turkish, and English ?
Address: 1-19 Oyama, Shibuya, Tokyo
And there you have it! Exploring Tokyo just got a little easier - with this list, you won't have to worry about where to perform your prayers while you're sight-seeing ? It's yet another reason to start planning that trip to Japan!