Hongaku-ji, Buddhist temple in Kanagawa-ku, Japan.
Hongaku-ji is a Buddhist temple with a main hall built during the Taisho period, where the Ebisu shrine stands out with its bright green and red colors. The layout includes distinct spaces designed for different ritual and devotional purposes.
The temple was founded in 1436 by Ashikaga Mochiuji during the era when the Ebisu shrine served governmental and spiritual functions. It has remained a site of religious practice through successive periods of Japan's history.
The temple participates in a pilgrimage route honoring the seven deities of good fortune, where visitors collect colored stamps at each stop. This practice brings pilgrims through the temple regularly as part of their spiritual journey across the city.
The temple is easily accessible by public transportation, with day passes connecting multiple stations throughout the area. Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to explore the grounds and visit nearby temples in the same pilgrimage route.
A priest named Niccho Shonin shaped the temple so deeply that visitors often know it by his name, 'Niccho-sama'. The temple later received sacred remains that reinforced his spiritual legacy.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
