摩耶寺, Buddhist temple in Shinagawa-ku, Japan
Maya-ji temple is a Buddhist sanctuary in Shinagawa featuring a main hall built in 1978 and a separate Maya hall as its central structures. This hall houses a wooden statue of Maya, mother of Buddha, as a focal point of worship.
The temple was established in 1667 during the Kanbun period and later received important Buddhist statues transferred from Hokke-ji temple. This transfer occurred during the persecution of Nichiren Buddhism, reflecting the site's growing religious importance.
The temple serves as one of the Seven Lucky Gods sites in the Ebara district, where Jurōjin, the deity of longevity and wisdom, is enshrined. Visitors can observe this veneration in the prayer halls and shrines.
The temple opens daily to visitors with free admission for all. It sits just a 7-minute walk from Nishi-Koyama Station on the Tokyu Meguro Line.
The temple preserves a wooden statue of Maya from 1678 measuring about 37 centimeters, displayed to the public only during Cultural Heritage Week each November. This rarely seen sculpture offers a glimpse into the temple's most precious holdings.
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