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The 5 Best Mosques in Tokyo
Explore Tokyo’s top five mosques that offer a serene and welcoming environment for worship. Experience the city’s rich Islamic heritage through these sacred spaces, each providing unique architectural beauty and a sense of community for Muslims and visitors alike.
Shibuya
Highlights
Tokyo Camii & Turkish Culture Center, Japan’s largest mosque, opened in June 2000. Located in Tokyo, it is renowned for its stunning architecture and serene interior, often called the “most beautiful mosque in the Orient.” The mosque features intricate plant motifs, geometric patterns, and Arabic calligraphy, highlighted by vibrant stained glass.
Visiting Hours and Tours
Visitors are welcome daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Fridays from 2:30 PM). Free Japanese guided tours are available every Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday at 2:30 PM, lasting 45 to 60 minutes without needing a reservation.
Community and Worship
Tokyo Camii serves a diverse Muslim population, including Turkish, Pakistani, Indonesian, Malaysian, Bangladeshi, and Japanese worshippers. Daily prayers attract 5 to 10 participants, while Friday congregational prayers draw 350 to 400 people. The mosque also welcomes many visiting Muslim tourists.
Amenities
The mosque houses vendors selling halal food, enhancing the cultural experience. Visitors must adhere to a dress code due to the site’s sacred nature.
Asakusa
Highlights
Located in Taito, Tokyo, Asakusa Mosque offers a welcoming space for both local and international Muslims. The mosque features separate prayer rooms for women, making it a comfortable place for all worshippers. It frequently hosts overseas Muslim tourist buses, allowing visitors to stop and pray.
Facilities and Services
The mosque provides facilities for important Islamic practices, including Iftar and Tarawih prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. It is well-equipped with a Wudu (ablution) room on the second floor. Male worshippers can use the prayer room on the third floor, while the fourth floor is dedicated to female worshippers.
Asakusa Mosque serves as a vital religious and cultural hub, ensuring a respectful and inclusive environment for Muslims in Tokyo. Whether you are a resident or a tourist, the mosque offers a serene space for worship and community gathering.
Otsuka
Highlights
Otsuka Mosque is conveniently located less than a 10-minute walk from JR East’s Otsuka Station on the Yamanote Line. It is also accessible via the Tokyo Metropolitan Arakawa-Waseda tram line (Otsuka Station stop). The mosque is oriented towards the Qibla, providing a proper direction for prayer.
Facilities and Services
Otsuka Mosque includes a dedicated floor for women, ensuring comprehensive facilities for all worshippers. Although there is no parking on-site, nearby coin-operated parking is available for those arriving by car.
Despite its small size, Otsuka Mosque is a vibrant community hub, hosting study sessions, volunteer activities, and other events. Additionally, there is a separate building that houses a school for Muslim children, emphasizing the mosque’s role in education and community support.
Okachimachi
Highlights
Assalam Mosque is a dedicated place of worship for Muslims. During Ramadan, it hosts Iftar events that attract many people, particularly from various Asian countries. The mosque offers daily prayer services and occasionally, I participate. The women’s prayer room is on the second floor, where both the Wudu (ablution) area and the prayer space are located.
Facilities and Community Activities
Assalam Mosque is a family-friendly space, offering study sessions on weekends where women with children can feel comfortable. The mosque is situated near a park and several Halal food restaurants, including Ayam-ya ramen, a vegetarian curry house, and a South Indian curry restaurant.
The ground floor features a library with books and pamphlets, providing information about local schools and businesses, making it an interesting spot for both foreign and Japanese visitors. The mosque also hosts bazaars several times a year.
Location
The mosque is about 500 meters from the nearest JR station, taking roughly 10-15 minutes to walk.
Meguro
Highlights
Masjid Meguro is highly recommended for Indonesian visitors or residents staying in the Meguro area. The mosque uses Indonesian for sermons, making it particularly welcoming for Indonesian speakers. The building consists of three floors: the basement floor is designated for women, while the remaining two floors are for men.
Facilities and Accessibility
Located in a residential area, Masjid Meguro is best accessed by public transportation due to limited parking and nearby stops. The mosque is about a 5-minute walk from the nearest bus stop. For those using the train, the mosque is approximately 1.2 km from Meguro Station. It’s very easy to find the mosque on Google Maps.
Masjid Meguro provides a comfortable and convenient space for worship, especially for the Indonesian Muslim community in Tokyo.