Head west from Yoyogi park on Inokashira-dori and you will come across an incongruous sight: a 40-metre tall minaret. It is part of Tokyo Mosque, also known as Tokyo Camii, the largest mosque in Japan.

Tokyo Camii was built in 2000 with help from the Turkish government but it serves the entire Muslim community. It is also open to visitors of all faiths and none.

The current structure was built to replace the old Tokyo camii, which had become dilapidated and was demolished in 1986. The original mosque was inaugurated by Tartar emigrants from Kazan in Russia in 1938. They fled their home country after the October Revolution of 1918 and settled in Japan.

The basic structure was erected by engineers from the Kajima corporation, but the marble cladding was flown in from Turkey. The ornamentation, the work of a team of 70 Turkish master craftsmen, is typical of Ottoman religious architecture.

The main dome is supported by six pillars. It is a bright and airy space, beautifully decorated in white and blue. Friday prayers are a busy time, but visitors are always welcome.

There is an adjoining Turkish cultural centre, where visitors can buy religious books, read and study. There is also an event space, where talks are regularly given and classes in Quranic studies and Arabic calligraphy are held.

In the basement of the mosque, you’ll find a small shop selling all kinds of Turkish groceries. It is open every day from 1000-1900. You can email the shop at halalmarket@tokyocamii.org

Tokyo Camii is at 1-19 Oyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0065. Tours of the mosque, conducted in Japanese, take place every Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM. For more information, visit their website or call 03-5790-0760.