Kansenji

Kansenji is a Buddhist temple in Suginami featuring traditional Japanese wooden architecture, stone lanterns, and a garden with Buddhist statues and ornamental plants throughout. The grounds show both old structures and natural elements that change with the seasons.

A Zen master named Tessou Yusaku founded the temple in 1597 as a place for spiritual practice. About 50 years later in 1645, it moved to its present location with support from the influential Imagawa family.

The temple follows Soto Zen Buddhist practices that shape how visitors and locals experience the space through regular meditation sessions and ceremonies held year-round. These gatherings create a living spiritual rhythm visible in how people move and behave on the grounds.

The temple is near public transportation in Suginami ward and remains open from sunrise to sunset daily with no admission fee. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and arrive at quieter times to respect the meditation practice happening on the grounds.

The temple houses the relocated tomb of Imagawa Ujizane, a 16th-century daimyo who was also known as a composer of classical Japanese poems. This historical figure left behind verses that remain connected to the place today.