毘沙門天堂

Whispers of tigers guard Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji. These aren’t the usual komainu dogs you see at shrines. These are stone tigers, a symbol of Bishamonten’s messengers. Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji isn’t a shrine, despite the vibrant orange hues of Nichiren Buddhism. It’s a temple, steeped in history and whispered secrets. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo shogunate, founded this temple in 1595. He initially placed it in Nihonbashi Bakurocho, christening it “Chingosan Zenkoku-ji” for the protection of the nation. Fire ravaged the original structure in 1670. Tokugawa Mitsukuni, Ieyasu’s grandson and creator of Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, rebuilt Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji in Kojimachi. Another fire in 1792 forced another relocation, finally settling Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji in Kagurazaka. The temple’s vibrant presence attracted merchants and residents. This spurred Kagurazaka’s growth. Bishamonten, one of the Four Heavenly Kings and Seven Lucky Gods, is revered for various blessings. These include prosperity, safety, and success. The temple’s festival days in the late Edo period drew massive crowds. In 1887, Kagurazaka held Tokyo’s first pedestrian-only zone and yatai food stalls during Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji’s festival.