Shrines and Temples, Tokyo

Zojoji Temple is the Tokugawa family temple. In fact, many of the Tokugawa mausoleums are on the site. It is easily viewed from Tokyo Tower, and is worth a few minutes to look around.

The closest subway stations are Onarimon or Shibakoen Station on the Mita Line and Daimon Station on the Oedo Line. Zojoji is also a 5-10 minute walk from Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Yamanote and JR Keihin-Tohoku Line.

I went to Sensouji Janually 1st. We Japanese go to temple or shrine for pray and wish on the New years day. Of course Sensouji is so famous place so it is so crowd on that day.But you can see a big lantern first. It called by " Kaminari-mon gate" . This lantern weight is 670kg!! So big! This gate is entrance so you go straight and have some shopping at "Nakamise-douri" . You can find SO JAPANESE stuffs.
Cost is not so expensive. And also have a littele food market called by Yomise. Have fun and don't miss it!

By many tourist forgotten and maybe that's why it is so special. The Meiji-shrine in the same-named park. You won't believe that you are in a city with millions of inhabitants if you walk the green lanes towards this sanctuary. The shrine itself is situated quietly in the centre of the park.

Sengaku-ji temple.

'This temple, known to every Japanese, was the setting for part of one of Edo's best known true stories... the tale concerns the fate of 47 ronin (masterless samurai). Their master, Lord Asano, taunted and scorned by his teacher Lord Kira, caused grave offense by drawing his sword in anger. Because the offense occurred within the castle grounds, Asano was obliged to perform seppuku (ritual suicide). On December 1, 1702, Asano's 47 retainers, in an act of revenge, decapitated Kira in his mansion on the banks of the Sumida River and carried the head through the snowy streets of Edo to their lord's grave at Sengaku-ji. Thereafter held in custody but treated with respect for their loyalty, the 47 ronin, ranging in age from five to 77 years, were ordered to commit seppuku.'

[Tokyo Insight Guide pp 183-184]

See my separate travelogue for more photos.

This is amarzing temple. It is Buddhist temple but looks like a mosque. The architecture was built of stone based on Indian style.

They have Saturday Evening Buddhist Service In English.

Located in Kamakura- about a 55 minute train ride from Shinjuku station. Was a great day trip...alot of shrines/temples, japanese gardens and you can walk to the beach.

Zojo-ji Temple sits behind Tokyo Tower and is the former funerary temple of the Tokugawas. Like many sights in Tokyo, it has been rebuilt several times in recent history; the last time in 1974.