# Gurdwara Tokyo Japan - History, Timings & Visitor Guide | GurdwaraSahib.in > Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo — the only Sikh gurdwara in Japan's capital, founded 1999, located in Bunkyo Ward. Free entry, open alternate Sundays. # Gurdwara Tokyo Japan Get Directions Share: Entry: Dress Code: Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo, formally also known as Gurdwara Sahib Tokyo, is the principal Sikh place of worship in Japan's capital city. Situated in the Myogadani district of Bunkyo Ward, the gurdwara is housed in the basement of an office building at Myogadani Heights, 3-5-4 Otsuka — an unassuming setting that belies its profound spiritual significance for the small but vibrant Sikh community spread across Japan's greater Kanto region. The gurdwara serves as the spiritual anchor for approximately 200–300 Sikhs living in and around the Tokyo metropolitan area, the largest concentration of Sikhs in Japan. Named after Guru Nanak Dev Ji — the founder of the Sikh faith — the Guru Nanak Darbar stands as a symbol of Sikh hospitality, egalitarianism, and devotion in one of the world's most densely populated cities. Despite its modest dimensions, the gurdwara fulfills all the essential functions of a traditional Sikh house of worship: a Darbar Sahib (main prayer hall) where the Guru Granth Sahib is reverently installed, and langar (community kitchen) service offered to all visitors regardless of faith, nationality, or background. Unlike gurdwaras in major Sikh population centers, the Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo operates on a schedule tailored to the realities of a diaspora community. Deewans (religious congregations) are typically held on alternate Sundays or national holidays, with dates announced in advance to the sangat. There are no full-time Granthi Singh, Raagi Singh, or Sewadaars, and all sewa is performed by dedicated volunteers who live and work in and around Tokyo. The gurdwara welcomes all visitors — Sikh and non-Sikh alike — in accordance with the universal spirit of the Sikh faith. What makes the Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo particularly remarkable is its context: it represents one of the easternmost established Sikh congregations in Asia, serving a community that has built its spiritual life in a country where Sikhism remains largely unknown to the general public. The gurdwara also functions as a cultural and social hub for the Indian-Sikh diaspora in Japan, providing a sense of belonging, community connection, and continuity with Punjabi heritage. Japan's total Sikh population stands at approximately 500 individuals, with 200–300 in Tokyo, 40–50 families in Kobe, and others in Ibaraki, making the Tokyo gurdwara the most active center of Sikh life in Japan. ## Significance The Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo holds deep religious and cultural significance as one of the few established Sikh gurdwaras in East Asia and the principal center of Sikh worship in Japan's capital. Named in honor of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first and founding Guru of the Sikh faith, the gurdwara embodies his core teachings of Naam Japo (meditate on the Divine Name), Kirat Karo (earn an honest living), and Vand Chhako (share with others) — principles that guide every activity within the sangat. The gurdwara serves as a spiritual sanctuary for the Sikh diaspora in Japan, providing continuity of faith, Gurbani (sacred scripture) recitation, and Kirtan (devotional music) far from the traditional heartlands of Sikhism in Punjab. For many Sikhs living in Japan, the Guru Nanak Darbar is their primary connection to the Guru Granth Sahib, the eternal living Guru of the Sikhs, and the liturgical traditions of the Panth. Culturally, the gurdwara functions as a bridge between the Sikh-Punjabi heritage of its congregants and their adopted home in Japan. It serves as a community center where diaspora Sikhs celebrate Gurpurabs (commemorative events of the Sikh Gurus), observe Baisakhi, and maintain the living tradition of langar that forms the bedrock of Sikh communal identity. The gurdwara also plays an outreach role, introducing Japanese nationals and international visitors to Sikhism's egalitarian and compassionate ethos. Its remarkable 2021 COVID-19 relief effort — collecting millions of yen to send to India — demonstrated the universal humanitarian values the Sikh faith embodies, earning the gurdwara respect well beyond the small Sikh community it directly serves. ## Nearby Gurdwaras ### Gurdwara Sahib 八王子市, Unknown 37 km away Gurdwara Sahib is a community gurdwara that serves as a center for worship, congregation, and social services for the local Sikh community located in Unknown. It is situated in Unknown. As with all gurdwaras, Gurdwara Sahib welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds. The gurdwara serves as a place of worship where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of the Sikhs) is kept with great reverence. The community gathers here for daily prayers (Nitnem), Kirtan (devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), and Katha (religious discourse). The gurdwara operates a Langar (community kitchen) where free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. This practice, established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and formalized by Guru Angad Dev Ji, embodies the Sikh principles of equality, sharing, and selfless service (Seva). Community ## Detailed History The history of Sikhs in Japan stretches back over a century. In 1900, Puran Singh — who would later become one of the greatest Punjabi poets of the 20th century — traveled to Japan to study pharmaceutical chemistry at Tokyo University, becoming one of the earliest documented Sikhs to arrive in Japan. He entered Tokyo University on 28 September 1900 and completed his education there in September 1903, returning to India deeply transformed by his Japanese experience. His presence in Japan represents the earliest known Sikh connection to the country. The modern organized Sikh community in Tokyo took shape much later, in the late 1990s. For approximately three years starting around 1998, early devotees gathered once a month or on special occasions at Indian restaurants around Tokyo, where temporary prayer spaces were arranged in limited quarters graciously provided by restaurant owners on a voluntary basis. These informal congregations, though humble, kept the flame of Sikh faith alive in the Japanese capital. The Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo was formally established in 1999 — a date of immense spiritual significance, as it coincided with the 300th anniversary (tercentenary) of the creation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh Ji at Anandpur Sahib in 1699. This milestone year gave the founding of the Tokyo gurdwara a special resonance among its founding members. In 2001, the community secured a more permanent home by renting a vacant room in the basement of an office building in the Myogadani district of Bunkyo Ward. Over time, the temple committee took the significant step of purchasing the entire basement floor, giving the congregation long-term stability and independence from rental arrangements. In 2021, the gurdwara demonstrated the Sikh spirit of sewa (selfless service) on an international scale. When India was devastated by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo mobilized the local Indian community and ethnic Japanese supporters, collecting 5.2 million yen in donations to purchase and send relief supplies to India — an act that earned widespread recognition and respect for the Tokyo Sikh community. The gurdwara continues to hold regular Deewans and mark key events in the Sikh calendar, standing as a living testament to diasporic Sikh faith and resilience. ## Structures in the Complex ### Darbar Sahib (Main Prayer Hall) prayer_hall The central prayer hall in the basement where the Guru Granth Sahib — the eternal Sikh scripture and living Guru — is installed on a palki (decorated throne) draped in rumalas (embroidered cloths). The congregation sits on the carpeted floor in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib during Kirtan and Diwan. ### Langar Hall langar_hall An area adjacent to the prayer hall where the community kitchen (langar) is operated by volunteers on Diwan days. Free vegetarian meals are prepared and served to all visitors regardless of faith or background, in keeping with the centuries-old Sikh tradition established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. ### Entrance and Shoe Room entrance The entry to the gurdwara is via a staircase from a bylane (not the main road) of the Myogadani Heights building. The entrance area includes a shoe rack where visitors remove footwear before entering the sacred premises, and head coverings are made available here. ### Isnan (Washing) Area prayer_hall A designated area near the entrance where visitors wash their hands and feet as an act of ritual purification before entering the Darbar Sahib, in accordance with Sikh tradition of cleanliness and humility before the Guru Granth Sahib. ## Visitor Information ### Dress Code Head covering required (scarves/patkas available at entrance), remove shoes before entering, modest clothing recommended ### Photography Respectful photography is generally permitted in common areas; refrain from photography during active prayer/kirtan without permission ### Etiquette Wash hands before entering the Darbar Sahib; sit on the floor in the prayer hall; bow before the Guru Granth Sahib upon entry; no smoking, alcohol, or non-vegetarian food on premises ## Climate & Best Time to Visit ## Langar (Free Community Kitchen) Serves the assembled sangat; gurdwara accommodates a small community congregation of approximately 50–100 on Diwan days Seating Capacity ## Architecture The Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo is distinctively housed in the basement (B-1 floor) of Myogadani Heights, an office building at 3-5-4 Otsuka, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. Unlike the grand domed gurdwaras with gilded facades found in Punjab or major Western Sikh diaspora cities, this gurdwara reflects the pragmatic and modest nature of a small diaspora community making its spiritual home within the dense urban fabric of Tokyo. The basement prayer hall contains the central Darbar Sahib, where the Guru Granth Sahib is installed with due reverence under a palki (canopy) and draped in rumalas (embroidered cloths). The space is arranged to allow the sangat to sit on the carpeted floor in the presence of the holy scripture, following traditional Sikh protocol. Adjacent areas serve the practical needs of the community including langar preparation and service. The entry to the gurdwara is via a staircase from a bylane rather than the main road, reflecting its embedded location within a mixed-use urban building. Despite its compact footprint, the interior maintains the essential sanctity and spiritual warmth expected of any Sikh place of worship, decorated with Sikh symbols and the Ik Onkar motif. ## Structures in the Complex ### Darbar Sahib (Main Prayer Hall) prayer_hall The central prayer hall in the basement where the Guru Granth Sahib — the eternal Sikh scripture and living Guru — is installed on a palki (decorated throne) draped in rumalas (embroidered cloths). The congregation sits on the carpeted floor in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib during Kirtan and Diwan. ### Langar Hall langar_hall An area adjacent to the prayer hall where the community kitchen (langar) is operated by volunteers on Diwan days. Free vegetarian meals are prepared and served to all visitors regardless of faith or background, in keeping with the centuries-old Sikh tradition established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. ### Entrance and Shoe Room entrance The entry to the gurdwara is via a staircase from a bylane (not the main road) of the Myogadani Heights building. The entrance area includes a shoe rack where visitors remove footwear before entering the sacred premises, and head coverings are made available here. ### Isnan (Washing) Area prayer_hall A designated area near the entrance where visitors wash their hands and feet as an act of ritual purification before entering the Darbar Sahib, in accordance with Sikh tradition of cleanliness and humility before the Guru Granth Sahib. ## Events & Celebrations ### gurpurab #### Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurpurab The most significant annual celebration at the gurdwara, marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (the founder of Sikhism) in November. The sangat gathers for extended Kirtan, Ardas, and langar. This event draws the largest congregation of the year from across Japan. #### Guru Gobind Singh Ji Gurpurab The birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru and founder of the Khalsa, is observed with special prayers, Kirtan, and langar. This Gurpurab usually falls in January according to the Nanakshahi calendar. #### Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji The shaheedi (martyrdom) anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru and compiler of the Adi Granth, is commemorated with special prayers and Kirtan in June, in keeping with Sikh tradition worldwide. ### festival #### Baisakhi Baisakhi (celebrated in April) marks the founding of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699. The Tokyo gurdwara holds special Diwan, Kirtan, and langar on this occasion, which is particularly meaningful as the gurdwara itself was founded in 1999 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of this event. ### weekly #### Regular Sunday Diwan Deewans (religious congregations) are held on alternate Sundays and national holidays throughout the year. These gatherings include Nitnem (daily prayers), Kirtan (devotional music), Ardas (communal prayer), and langar. All sewa is performed by volunteers from the sangat. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### visiting The Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo does not follow daily opening hours. Deewans (religious congregations) are held on alternate Sundays or national holidays. There are no full-time staff, so the gurdwara remains closed on other days. Dates are announced in advance — check the official website at gurudwaratokyo.org or the Sikh Sangat Japan Facebook page for the current schedule. Yes, langar is served on Diwan days (typically alternate Sundays and national holidays). In keeping with Sikh tradition, langar is free and open to all, regardless of religion, nationality, or background. Extended langar is provided during Gurpurab celebrations and Baisakhi. Contact the gurdwara in advance to confirm langar availability on your planned visit date. Yes, entry is completely free, as is the case with all Sikh gurdwaras worldwide. Visitors are welcome regardless of their faith, nationality, or background. Voluntary donations (seva) are gratefully accepted to support the gurdwara's operations. All visitors must cover their head before entering the prayer hall — scarves and head coverings are typically available at the entrance. Shoes must be removed before entry. Modest, comfortable clothing is recommended. Non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and smoking are strictly prohibited on the premises. ### history The Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo was formally established in 1999, coinciding with the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa Panth. Before this, from around 1998, Sikhs gathered informally at Indian restaurants. In 2001, the community secured a permanent basement space in the Myogadani district, Bunkyo Ward, which the temple committee later purchased outright. The gurdwara gained international recognition in 2021 when it raised 5.2 million yen for COVID-19 relief in India. Japan's total Sikh population is estimated at approximately 500 individuals. The largest concentration of 200–300 Sikhs lives in the greater Tokyo area, whom the Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo primarily serves. There are also Sikh communities in Kobe (40–50 families with their own gurdwara established in 1952) and in Ibaraki prefecture. ### transport The Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo is located at Myogadani Heights, B-1 Floor, 3-5-4 Otsuka, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. The nearest station is Myogadani Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (M23), about 5–7 minutes' walk away. Otsuka Station on the JR Yamanote Line is about 10 minutes' walk. Note that the entrance to the gurdwara is via a bylane staircase and not from the main road. The nearest major airports are Narita International Airport (approximately 65 km away, about 75–90 minutes by express train) and Haneda Airport (approximately 25 km, about 45 minutes by train). From both airports, take trains to central Tokyo and then the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line to Myogadani Station. 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