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Ikegami Honmonji, officially known as Chōeizan Daihonzan Honmonji (長栄山大本山本門寺) is the head temple of the Nichiren sect in Ikegami, Ōta Ward, Tōkyō. The temple, simply called Ikegami Honmonji (池上本門寺) since ancient times, is one of the fourteen sacred temples of the Nichiren sect and revered as the...

Jindaiji Motomachi (深大寺元町) is a peaceful neighbourhood in western Tōkyō: tranquil, lush with greenery and trickling streams, and rich in local history, it lends itself to those who want to escape the bustling city to enjoy sightseeing, culture, and traditional Japanese goodies. It takes about...

Haneda Shrine (羽田神社 Haneda-jinja) is a Shintō shrine located in Honhaneda, in the Ota Ward of Tōkyō. History: The shrine was originally part of a temple that was founded in the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) by Namekata Yojirō (行方与次郎), a feudal lord of Hanedaura and local naval commander. It...

Tokyo Travel Guide: Yushima SeidoYushima Seidō (湯島聖堂) is the only Confucian temple (聖堂 seidō, "sacred hall' or "cathedral") in Japan. It is located in Bunkyō Ward, Tōkyō, just across Kanda Myōjin. In Japan, Confucian temples are also known as taiseiden (大成殿). The origins of Yushima Seidō can...

Kameido Tenjin Shrine, founded in 1661, is situated in Tokyo's Koto Ward in the quiet downtown district known as the Shitamachi (traditional area). The shrine is an important part of local life, and if you're lucky enough, you could witness a Japanese wedding ceremony or the blessings of...

Gōtokuji (豪徳寺), officially Daikeizan Gōtokuji, is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple located in Setagaya in western Tōkyō. It is the ancestral temple of the Ii family; some 300 members of their clan, including Ii Naosuke, are buried there. Legend has it that Gōtokuji is also the birthplace of the...