Zojoji Temple

Zojoji Temple was also located near our hotel. Literally five minutes away, we walked over to visit and pick up some omomori or good luck amulets to take home before we left Japan. Originally built in 1393 and then moved to it's present location in 1598, Zojoji Temple is the main temple of the Buddhist Jodo sect in the Kanto area of Japan. When Tokugawa Ieyasu moved to Edo (Tokyo) in 1590, Zojoji Temple became the family temple of the Tokugawa family. The Sangedatsumon or main gate that you see in the above picture was originally constructed in 1622. It is the only structure that remains of the original temple compound as all other buildings were destroyed in the air raids of 1945.

The main hall seen behind us is called Daiden (Hondo) and was rebuilt in 1974. This picture really doesn't do the temple justice as we are standing quite far from it in this pose. Enshrined in the main hall is a large Amida Buddha. You can see part of Tokyo Tower in the background to the right.

What was first beautiful to behold ended up making me a little melancholy. Spanning almost the entire length of one side of the temple grounds were hundreds of these little Jizo statues all dressed festively with bonnets and windmills. After inquiring about their significance I found that they represent children who were stillborn or passed away of other causes. Jizo is the Buddhist protector of children, travellers and the dead.

The quiet stroll around the peaceful temple grounds seemed a fitting way to spend our last day in Tokyo. The weather had started to turn a little cooler and the city seemed to have slowed down for the weekend. After a final walk around Zojoji Temple we all headed back to the hotel to begin the arduous task of packing for our return trip to Hawaii.