Shinganji, Buddhist temple in Shimokitazawa, Japan
Shinganji is a Buddhist temple in Setagaya-ku featuring traditional wooden structures and a ginkgo tree spanning multiple centuries on its grounds. The complex also includes a hexagonal glass shrine dedicated to Benzaiten and operates a kindergarten alongside its religious functions.
The temple was founded in the early 1600s by Yuki Hideyasu, a daimyo and significant member of the Tokugawa clan. The site later became the burial place for this influential feudal lord and played a role in the region's spiritual landscape during the Edo period.
The temple hosts the annual Hari Kuyo ceremony each February, when visitors bring worn needles to bury at a dedicated memorial to express gratitude for their service. This ritual connects everyday objects with spiritual reverence in a touching and accessible way.
The temple is accessible via the Keio Inokashira Line or Odakyu Odawara Line from Shimokitazawa Station, with several entry points to the grounds. Visitors should be respectful as the space remains an active kindergarten, so quiet behavior and understanding of school operations is important.
The grounds have operated a kindergarten since 1952 alongside its spiritual functions, an unusual blend that shows how traditional spirituality and modern community life coexist in the same space. This arrangement makes the temple distinctly different from most religious sites in Tokyo.
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