日輪寺, Buddhist temple in Yanaka, Taito-ku, Japan.
Nichirenji is a Buddhist temple in Yanaka, Taitō-ku, featuring an outdoor bronze Buddha statue and a Kannon figure representing mercy in the faith. The compound includes a cemetery with traditional grave markers spread across a wooded hillside setting.
The temple was established in 1274 as a sanctuary for the Tendai Buddhist sect. It housed a carving made by the priest Nichiren, which remains a sacred object at the site.
The grounds hold a cemetery that shows visitors how Japanese Buddhist burial traditions and spiritual practices work in everyday life.
The temple is accessible by a short walk from Nippori Station's west exit, with stone steps climbing toward the cemetery area. Comfortable walking shoes are helpful since the terrain involves gradual elevation changes.
The pagoda and Buddha statue survived the 1868 civil war intact while most nearby structures were destroyed during the upheaval. This preservation makes the temple rare evidence of what the area looked like before that conflict.
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