Renkei-ji, Buddhist temple in Kawagoe, Japan
Renkei-ji is a Jōdo-shū Buddhist temple in Kawagoe whose main hall is dedicated to Amida Buddha. Its mountain name is Kōhozan and its monastery name is Hōchi-in. The grounds include the Donryu-dō, where Lord Donryu is enshrined, and a figure of Obinzuru-sama stands at its entrance.
The temple was founded in 1549 by Renkei, mother of Daidoji Masashige, and later became recognized in 1602 as an important center within a regional Buddhist education network. This dual moment in time shaped its role in the area.
Monthly gatherings on the 8th day bring people together for Buddhist storytelling and community events that are woven into local life. These occasions reflect how the temple remains a center for shared spiritual practice in the neighborhood.
Renkei-ji is a 10-minute walk from Kawagoe-shi Station on the Tobu Tojo Line and a 5-minute walk from Honkawagoe Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line. From the east exit of Kawagoe Station, a Tobu Bus West bound for Shinmeicho Shako takes about 7 minutes to the Renkei-ji-mae stop. A parking area is available on the grounds.
At the entrance to the Donryu-do hall stands a figure of Obinzuru-sama, a disciple of the Buddha, not the Chinese Budai. Visitors touch the same spot on the statue as the part of their own body that ails them, believing the illness will be healed.
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