Sōsen-ji

Sōsen-ji is a Buddhist temple in Azusawa, Tokyo, featuring a main hall, a bone Buddha hall, a Yakushi hall, and a traditional Japanese garden. The grounds include a sacred spring that flows through the garden landscape.

The temple was founded in 1201 and originally stood in Asakusa before relocating to its current Itabashi location in 1928. This move followed the Great Kanto earthquake, which devastated much of Tokyo.

The temple takes its name from Myoki, a woman who became a Buddhist nun to honor her deceased son, and this maternal devotion continues to define the place for visitors today. The story connects people to the spiritual purpose of the temple.

The temple is located just three minutes on foot from Shimura-sakaue Station on the Toei Mita Line in northern Tokyo. The grounds are easy to reach and straightforward to navigate.

The temple spring was named by Shogun Yoshimune during a falcon hunting expedition, when he praised the water's exceptional purity. This historical endorsement remains part of the site's character today.

Location: Azusawa

Part of: Three Temples in Edo

GPS coordinates: 35.77822,139.69372

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:09