“Is that cherry tree real?” I hear you ask. That is a good question. Welcome to Emyo-ji. It is a temple in Tokyo’s Adachi ward. Emyo-ji has a history stretching back centuries.
Emyo-ji’s origins are somewhat mysterious. Some say it was founded in the Heian period. That was a long time ago. A monk named Ryoson is said to have established it. The verifiable history is sparse.
During the Edo period, Emyo-ji became important. It was affiliated with the Shogoin-Temple. Shogoin-Temple is a temple in Kyoto. Emyo-ji became a central temple. It oversaw many local Shingon temples. It controlled as many as 36 temples.
In 1876, Emyo-ji merged with a nearby temple. This was the Enmei-ji Temple. Enmei-ji was in what is now Adachi Ward. The merger brought a statue of Amida Nyorai to Emyo-ji. This statue was part of the “Edo Six Amida”.
For a long time, the main deity at Emyo-ji was Fudo Myoo. Later the Amida Nyorai statue took its place. This happened during the Taisho era. The statue had been one of the “Edo Six Amida.”
During World War II, the temple suffered damage. The main hall burned down. The Amida Nyorai statue survived. It was spared from the flames.
Before the war, Emyo-ji belonged to the Shingon sect. It was affiliated with the Toyosan school. After the war in 1953, it became independent. It is now a temple of the Shingon sect.
The Edo Six Amida pilgrimage was popular. It was a tour of six Amida statues. These were in temples around Edo which is now Tokyo. People would visit these temples for religious reasons. It was also a form of recreation. Emyo-ji was one of these temples. Many people visited Emyo-ji during the Edo period.
After merging with Enmei-ji in 1876, the Amida hall remained. It was located on the old temple grounds. In 1910, the hall was moved. This was because of the Arakawa River improvement project.
The Amida statue is about 87cm tall. It is thought to be made after the Kamakura period. In 1982, it was designated a cultural asset. The wooden Amida Nyorai statue is beautiful.
Today, Emyo-ji includes several buildings. There is the main hall. There is also a Benten hall. There is a Daishi hall. Finally, there is a Jizo for children.
You can reach Emyo-ji by train and bus. The Tobu Skytree Line has a nearby station. The Nippori-Toneri Liner is also close. Please note there is no parking at Emyo-ji.
In recent years, Emyo-ji has become known for its cherry blossoms. There is a weeping cherry tree in front of the main hall. When the cherry blossoms bloom, the temple is lit up. In April, there is an event called “Shidarezakura no Yube”. There is a concert. You can enjoy original cocktails. It attracts many people of all ages.
So that cherry tree is very real indeed and now you know much more about Emyo-ji. It is a temple with a rich history. It has survived wars and mergers. It continues to be a place of worship and community.