Seishō-ji, Buddhist temple in Atago, Tokyo, Japan
Seishō-ji is a Soto Zen temple in Atago featuring a striking concrete main hall built in 1931 that blends modern architecture with religious function. The compound includes this central building alongside traditional garden spaces that create a calm setting within the surrounding urban area.
The temple was founded in 1476 by Ōta Dōkan, a samurai leader who shaped Tokyo's early power structure during the Muromachi period. It relocated to its present location when the expansion of Edo Castle required the original grounds.
The temple served as a major administrative center for Soto Zen Buddhism across the Kanto region during the Edo period, a role that shaped its spiritual authority. Today, visitors sense this historical importance in how the grounds are maintained and used for religious practice.
The temple sits about a seven-minute walk northwest of Onarimon Station on the Toei Mita Line in central Tokyo. The station offers easy access from multiple areas of the city, and the walking route is straightforward without major obstacles.
The grounds hold a memorial stone honoring Indonesian independence fighters, presented by President Sukarno in 1956. This stone represents an unexpected connection between Tokyo and Indonesia's modern history within a religious space.
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