Envision Himonya long ago a district of woodworkers crafting with Japanese cypress. This is Himonya. Its history stretches back to the Muromachi period. It was then known as Himonoyoya.
Himonya’s name is a play on words. It sounds like “himon” or “hibun”. That means “inscription on a stone”. Many artisans lived here creating things from Hinoki cypress wood. They were called himonoshi. They were also known as magemonoshi. These craftsmen made bentwood products or kurimono.
Let’s talk about Himonya Hachimangu. This shrine has a long history dating back to the Kamakura period. Hatakeyama Shigetada prayed here for victory in war. He was a vassal of Minamoto no Yoritomo. Hanzawa Rokuro also built a sanctuary for Inari. He was a vassal of Hatakeyama. It featured a stone inscription of Himonya’s name. The himon seki. That stone was made in the Muromachi period. It measures 75 cm high 45 cm wide and 10 cm thick. The inscription includes a Sanscrit letter for Dainichi Nyorai. It also shows Seishi Bosatsu and Kannon Bosatsu. Some say Himonya’s name comes from this stone inscription.
The Shaden Hall was first erected in 1674. It was rebuilt in 1872. It was refurbished again in 1877. The shrine boasts a Kagura-Den. This is for Kagura dance performances. Following the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism part of the shrine became Enyu-Ji temple. It was formerly Hokke-Ji. A long row of cherry trees graces the compound. It stretches from the first to the second Torii gate.
The Sakura matsuri or Cherry Blossom Festival is held during the season. The main Shrine festival occurs in mid-September. Bamboo shoots from Meguro were grown in Himonya village since 1772. People bought them after visiting Meguro Fudo Temple.
Sometimes a large straw rope appeared at the Torii gate of Himonya Hachimangu. It looked like a dragon. Its tail rested on the ground. People said it was a serpent from Mount Fuji protecting the Shrine from fire. In times of drought people performed rain rituals here. Okusawa Jinja is related to Himonya Shrine.
The Korean statue carver Annami created Nio statues for Hokke-Ji temple in Himonya village. In 1772 Annami fell ill. He prayed for healing in the hall. He recovered on the last day of his vow.
Hokke-Ji was built in the Heian period. It belonged to the Tendai sect. During the Kamakura period it shifted to the Nichiren sect. It returned to the Tendai sect in the mid-Edo period. It was renamed Enryu-Ji at the end of the Edo period.
Himonya was part of the Ebara district. This area farmed egoma a type of perilla. Its oil was used. Its leaves were eaten. It helped farmers through famine. In 1927 Ebara Machi village was founded.
In medieval Meguro two samurai clans existed. These were the Meguro and Himonya clans. Buddhist steles from that time have been found in Meguro-ku. These steles show the deep religion of people during war and disaster. The Himonya clan centered itself in the Tachiaigawa River basin.
Enyu-ji’s Shaka-do Hall is the oldest wooden structure in Meguro-ku. It was built in the early Muromachi Period. Its roof has a steep pitch. It blends Zen and Japanese architectural styles. During the Edo Period Meguro was a falcon hunting ground for the Tokugawa Shogun family. Himonya was one of six villages in the Meguro area.
Today Himonya blends its rich past with modern life. You can still feel the echoes of its history as a village of artisans and a place of spiritual significance.