Zōjō-ji Temple

Welcome to Zōjō-ji, the head temple of the Chinzei branch of the Jodo-shu, or Pure Land sect, of Japanese Buddhism. Located in the shadow of the iconic Tokyo Tower, this temple serves as one of the city's most powerful spiritual…

We stand before the Sannomon, the 'Gate of the Three Liberations.' Built in 1622, this is the oldest wooden structure in Tokyo and the only original part of the Zōjō-ji complex that survived the firebombing of World War II. The…

The Daibenzaiten, or Main Hall, is the ceremonial heart of Zōjō-ji. Although the current structure is a 1974 reconstruction, it faithfully reproduces the grandeur of the original. …

Behind the Main Hall lies the mausoleum of the Tokugawa Shoguns, a site of immense historical weight. Here are interred the remains of six Shoguns: Hidetada (the second), Ienobu (the sixth), Ietsugu (the seventh), Ieshige (the…

One of the most moving features of Zōjō-ji is the long rows of 'Unborn Child Jizo' statues. There are over a thousand of these small stone figures, each representing a child who was miscarried, stillborn, or died shortly after…

In a surprising intersection of Japanese religion and American history, the grounds of Zōjō-ji feature two trees planted by Presidents of the United States. The first is a Himalayan Cedar planted by General Ulysses S. …

Our final stop is the 'Daishō-rō,' the Great Bell Tower. Cast in 1673, the bell of Zōjō-ji is one of the largest and most famous in Japan. …

Our exploration of Zōjō-ji has taken us from the resilient Sannomon Gate to the golden heart of the Main Hall, and from the somber mausoleum of the Shoguns to the poignant rows of Jizo statues. We have seen how this temple serves…