Renkei-ji, Buddhist temple in Kawagoe, Japan
Renkei-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kawagoe with several worship halls arranged around a main building that features curved roofs and wooden columns typical of Japanese Buddhist design. The layout creates distinct spaces for different religious practices and meditation.
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.
The temple is about a 5-minute walk from Honkawagoe Station, or visitors can take a Tobu bus from Kawagoe Station to the Renkenji-mae stop. The layout spreads across several buildings, so plan time to walk through the different areas.
Inside the temple stands an Obinzuru-sama statue that visitors touch on specific body parts to seek healing for their ailments. This hands-on practice reveals how people here connect spiritual intention with physical gesture.
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