松應寺

Shoji Temple is a Buddhist temple complex in Okazaki featuring a wooden arcade pathway that extends approximately 40 meters and connects to the renovated Miyakoya shopping district. The structure integrates the sacred space with a nearby commercial area, creating a bridge between religious practice and everyday community life.

The temple was founded in 1560 by Tokugawa Ieyasu as a memorial to his father Matsudaira Hirotada, who was killed by treacherous retainers in 1549. This establishment reflects a significant personal gesture from the influential Tokugawa family during a formative period in Japanese history.

The temple serves as the fifth station on the Mikawa pilgrimage route dedicated to the thirty-three Kannon temples, playing an active role in local Buddhist practice and community gatherings.

The temple hosts a monthly market event on the third Saturday of each month starting at 10:00, where local vendors sell their products and the community gathers. This market takes place on the temple grounds and provides an ideal opportunity to visit while experiencing local commerce and social connections.

The temple grounds feature a white wisteria that blooms after the pink cherry blossoms have faded, marking spring in two distinct waves. This delayed flowering gives visitors two separate botanical displays within the same season at this single location.