Gazing across the bridge, what is that small red roof peeking out? That is the Hiiragi Koshin Tower. You might also hear it called the Tadosbashi Koshinto.
The Hiiragi Koshin Tower stands near the Meguro River. Specifically, it is just across the Tadosbashi bridge. It is a precious stone monument.
This tower also served as a signpost. It guided travelers in the Edo period.
The Hiiragi Koshin Tower was half-buried for a long time. Later it was excavated. Now it is properly enshrined.
The tower’s construction dates back to 1775. The base stone shows traces of the three monkeys.
An inscription on the tower reads “Offering Koshin Tower”. It also shows directions. “Shin Tera, Yufuten Road” is on the right. “Konpira, Fudo Temple approach” is on the left. Shin Tera refers to Choshogakuen. It is along the Kamimeguro Koshin Road. Konpira refers to the Konpira Shrine. It once stood near Meguro-dori.
Koshin towers were erected after completing Koshin-machi. Koshin-machi was a folk belief. People gathered on Koshin days. These days occurred every 60 days. They prayed to Shoenzu Kongo. They feasted and celebrated through the night. This practice was popular during the Edo period. People built Koshin Towers after 18 Koshin waits. This equaled three years of observance.
Another Koshin Tower stands at Tenso Shrine in Meguro. It has two bases. This Koshin Tower has a unique form. It features Shoenzu Kongo. This deity has six arms. Also depicted are the sun and moon. Two birds and three monkeys are carved as well.
The tower on the right is older. It dates back to 1716. This tower also functions as a road marker. It is the oldest road marker in the ward. Inscriptions show directions to various locations. These include Kudan Buddha. Also, they show directions to Setagaya. Finally, they point the way to Meguro Fudo.
Tenso Shrine was known as “Oiga Mori”. It had many trees. A large pine tree once stood before the shrine. It reached toward the sky. It was designated as an old tree of Tokyo. The tree’s trunk was over 4.5 meters in circumference. It was over 30 meters tall. It was estimated to be hundreds of years old.
The Hiiragi Koshin Tower may seem small. Yet it connects us to old traditions. It reminds us of the beliefs and pathways of Edo-era travelers. Take a moment to appreciate its history and artistry.