Saishō-ji, Buddhist temple in Shinjuku, Japan
Saishō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Shinjuku housing several stone monuments across its grounds. The site features a stone pagoda marking the grave of samurai Hattori Hanzo and a memorial tower dedicated to Tokugawa Nobuyasu.
Hattori Hanzo founded the temple in 1594 following the Tokugawa clan's rise to power in Edo. The samurai warrior's legacy became central to the temple's identity and purpose over subsequent centuries.
The temple preserves a registered cultural property: a spear that Tokugawa Ieyasu gave to Hattori Hanzo as a token of trust and favor. This object remains a tangible link to the bond between samurai warrior and feudal lord.
You can walk through the temple grounds to view the stone monuments and architectural features at a leisurely pace. The setting allows for quiet reflection while examining details connected to samurai history.
The temple functions as the family burial ground of the Hattori clan, with multiple graves documenting the lineage of this notable samurai line. These grave sites together tell the story of a samurai family's journey through generations of service and influence.
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