Akiba jinja (Taito-ku)

Akiba Jinja (taito-ku)

秋葉神社

● Address : 3 Chome-10-7 Matsugaya, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0036

 〒113-0034 東京都文京区松が谷3-10-7

 ● Hours : doors from 9am to 5 pm 

 ● Transportation : 8min walk from Iriya station (Hibiya line) 

11min from Inaricho (Ginza line) 13min from Ueno  

● Web : http://www.tokyo-jinjacho.or.jp/taito/3051/

● Entry Fees : Free 

● Event : 

● Goshuin : Goshuin : Soooo many !!!! (printed and written beautiful goshuin for each month)

It is an adorable temple which extends its tori on both sides of a small pedestrian street. A small parenthesis in the city that opens up to you by following the gravel road. The temple is surrounded by many trees, mostly sakura ... so it will be good to go there in March-April.

Also bring your goshuin-cho! Akiba Jinja is one of those temples that not only offers a whole collection of seasonal goshuin but also some are written and not printed! And it's a real pleasure to see the nimble hand of the priest tracing the kanji and adding touches of color!

For the story, the temple was first erected during the Meiji era in the Akihabara district. Akihabara was also the name of the temple and it is he who will give his name to the district.

At the time, the city was struck by numerous fires and a place of prayer to protect oneself seemed necessary. Nevertheless, in 1888, due to the construction of a railway station, the temple had to be moved and arrived at its current location. In 1930 the temple was renamed Akiba Jinja.

There are 400 Akiba shrines in Japan, they worship the god Hinokagutsuchi-no-Okami (火之迦具土大神) or Katsuguchi for short. This is the kami associated with fire protection.

Moreover, these other names all also bear the fire kanji 火:

Homusubi (火産霊); Hinokagutsuchinokami (火之迦具土神); Hinoyagihayawonokami (火之夜藝速男神); Hinokagabikonokami (火之炫毘古神).

- Français -

C'est un adorable temple qui étend ses tori de part et d'autre d'une petite rue piétonne. Une petite parenthèse dans la ville qui s'ouvre à vous en suivant le chemin de gravier. Le temple est entouré de nombreux arbres, des sakura pour la plupart ... il fera

donc bon y aller en mars-avril. 
Emporter aussi votre goshuin-cho ! Akiba Jinja fait parti de ces temples qui non seulement propose toute une collection de goshuin saisonniers mais en plus certains sont écrits et non imprimés ! Et c'est un vrai plaisir de voir la main agile du prêtre tracer les kanji et poser des touches de couleur !

Pour l'histoire, le temple avait d'abord été érigé pendant l'ère Meiji dans le quartier de Akihabara. Akihabara était d'ailleurs le nom du temple et c'est lui qui donnera son nom au quartier. 

A l'époque, la ville était frappée de nombreux incendies et un lieu de prière pour se protéger semblait nécessaire. Néanmoins, en 1888, en raison de la construction d'une gare, le temple a du être déplacé et est arrivé à son emplacement actuel. En 1930 le temple fu rebaptisé Akiba Jinja.

Il existe 400 sanctuaires Akiba au Japon, on y vénère le dieu Hinokagutsuchi-no-Okami (火之迦具土大
神) ou Katsuguchi tout court. C'est le kami associé à la protection contre les incendies. 

D'ailleurs ces autres noms portent tous aussi le kanji du feu 火 :

Homusubi (火産霊) ; Hinokagutsuchinokami (火之迦具土神) ; Hinoyagihayawonokami (火之夜藝速男神) ; Hinokagabikonokami (火之炫毘古神).

Plusieurs temples à venir se situent à 10 15 minutes à pieds. Consultez le "geographical index" pour préparer votre balade ! ^_-

préparez votre goshuin-cho !

© Toute utilisation des photos nécessite une demande d'autorisation.

© Any use of the photos requires a request for authorization.

Yushima Tenjin

Yushima Tenjin ou Yushima Tenmangu ou Yushima Jinja

湯島天神 - 湯島天満宮 - 湯島神社

● Address : 3 chome-30-1 Yushima, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0034

 〒113-0034 東京都文京区湯島3-30-1 

● Hours : doors from 6am to 20 pm 

● Transportation : 2min walk from Yushima station (Tokyo metro Chiyoda line)

 ● Web : OHP : https://www.yushimatenjin.or.jp/ 

● Entry Fees : Free 

● Event : Ume Matsuri, Natsu Matsuri 

● Goshuin : Yes (normal back and red) but also Special Goshuin at different seasons (Printed not written)

It is quite a large temple for a temple in central Tokyo. It is located near Ueno Park and includes several buildings, a small garden and also a small alley where a few stalls are set up on both sides during the matsuri season.

Depending on your route, you may arrive at the bottom of a flight of stairs lined with plum trees before arriving at the shrine dedicated to Tenjin Sama.

The temple is said to have been founded in 458 by decree of Emperor Yushima. The building will be
rebuilt by Ota Dokan in 1478. In 1703, a fire completely destroyed the temple. It is the Shogun Tsunayoshi who will pay in gold for the reconstruction of the temple.

Nevertheless, over the years, the buildings deteriorate again and is rebuilt in 1995 in cypress wood. A wood that has good resistance over time.

If you have followed the walk in the Ushi Tenjin you now know (and if you don't know, I will give the information right away) that Tenjin Sama has two symbols: the cow and the plum tree. It is therefore no surprise that you will find statues of cows (on either side of the Oharai) a happy cow and a less friendly cow.

And then, plum trees, a whole garden of plum trees which made the reputation of this temple known for its Ume Matsuri (plum tree festival).

Tenjin Sama being also known for his work as a writer, the temple is a favorite place for students from surrounding schools who wish to come and pray for their success in exams. Many writers from the past also visited this temple: Hayashi Michiharu, Matsunaga Sekigo, Hori Kyoan, Monk Megumi, or Arai Hakuseki.

- Français -

C'est un temple assez grand pour un temple dans le centre de Tokyo. Il est situé à proximité du parc d'Ueno et comprend plusieurs bâtiment, un petit jardin et aussi une petite allée où viennent s'installer quelques échoppes de part et d'autres à la saison des matsuri. 

Selon votre trajet vous arriverez peut-être en bas d'une volée de marche bordée de pruniers avant d'arriver au sanctuaire dédié à Tenjin Sama. 

Le temple aurait été fondé en 458 par décret de l'empereur Yushima. Le bâtiment sera reconstruit par Ota Dokan en 1478. En 1703, un incendie ravage entièrement le temple. C'est le SHogun Tsunayoshi qui paiera en or pour la reconstruction du temple. 
Néanmoins, au fil des années, les bâtiments se détériorent à nouveau et est reconstruit en 1995 an bois de cyprès. Un bois qui a une bonne résistance dans le temps. 

Si vous avez suivi la balade dans le Ushi Tenjin vous savez désormais (et si vous ne savez pas, je vais redonner l'information tout de suite) que Tenjin Sama a deux symboles : la vache et le prunier. C'est donc sans surprise que vous retrouverez des statues de vaches (de part et d'autre du Oharai) une vache contente et une vache moins sympathique. 

Et puis, des pruniers, tout un jardin de pruniers qui ont fait la réputation de ce temple connu pour son Ume Matsuri (festival des pruniers). 

Tenjin Sama étant aussi connu pour son travail d'écrivain, le temple est un lieu de prédilections pour les étudiants des écoles alentours qui souhaitent venir prier pour leur réussite aux examens. De nombreux écrivains du passé se sont aussi rendus dans ce temple : Hayashi Michiharu, Matsunaga Sekigo, Hori Kyoan, Monk Megumi, ou Arai Hakuseki.

© Toute utilisation des photos nécessite une demande d'autorisation.

Ushi Tenjin Kitano (Korakuen)

 牛天神北野神社

● Address : 1 Chome-5-2 Kasuga, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0003
〒112-0003 東京都文京区春日1-5-2
● Hours : doors from 6am to 5 pm - reception from 9am to 5pm
● Transportation : 7min walk from Korakuen station
● Web : 
     OHP : http://www.ushitenjin.jp/
     twitter : https://twitter.com/kitanojinja
● Entry Fees : Free
● Event : Ume Matsuri, Natsu Matsuri
● Goshuin : Yes ! A lot (mostly flowers but not only with color and written ones !) from 500yens

You have to turn a little in the streets to find the stairs that lead to the temple. A flight of 55 steps lined with plum trees takes you to a small mountain where this adorable little sanctuary is located. At the top, the charming temple dedicated to Ushi Tenjin stands among plum trees and a Sakura. To the left of the main temple, another small hotel also hosts its deities.

We tell you all about it:

First of all USHI TENJIN who gave his name to the sanctuary.

The story goes that Minamoto no Yoritomo, who was traveling to Oshu, sat down on the black stone now venerated in the temple. (why did he climb a mountain to rest ? the story does not say...). As he slept, he saw in a dream Sugawara no Michizane - also called Tenjin Sama - riding a cow (Ushi in Japanese) and announcing that something good was about to happen. With this auspiciousness protecting him, Minamoto no Yorimoto founded Ushi Tenjin Temple in 1184.

Since then, the stone on which Minamoto rested has been considered sacred. It has been given the shape of a cow (you will judge for yourself) and also the power to fulfill the wish of whoever strokes it. And... since people are resourceful, if you ever need to bring luck home or send it to someone, it is possible to moisten a cloth and stroke the cow's mouth with. Then put your fabric in a plastic bag and slip the
plastic bag under the pillow... your wish will come true too.

- At this point, some may be wondering why Ushi Tenjin was riding a cow... (and why there are cows in all Tenjin Sama temples) You should know that Tenjin Sama loved cows! So in the temple you have: the rock-black cow, two statues that guard the temple and then... a wooden board with ropes where you can tie the omikuji.
- And then like Tenjin Sama and had as a symbol of his family ... the plum blossom. You know why the temple is planted with plum trees and the symbol of the flower is present everywhere.

That's it for the first part. Next ...

If you look on the left you will notice a smaller Shrine. Also in the compound are Ota Shrine and Takagi Shrine and the couple of entertainment god Ame no Uzume no Mikoto and road god Sarutahiko Mikoto and Ukanomitama (Mikoto Uka). All this little world is supposed to bring luck for gambling ... we are mainly talking about the lottery here. And then, for entertainment, it is said that kabuki actors also came to pray at the temple.

- Français -

Il faut tourner un peu dans les rues pour trouver les escaliers qui mènent au temple. Une volée de 55 marches bordée de prunier qui vous emmène sur une petite montagne ou est installé cet adorable petit sanctuaire. En haut, le temple charmant dédié à Ushi Tenjin se dresse au milieu des pruniers et d'un Sakura. A gauche du temple principal un autre petit hôtel accueil aussi ses divinités. 
Nous vous racontons tout ça : 

Tout d'abord USHI TENJIN qui a donné son nom au sanctuaire.
L'histoire veut que Minamoto no Yoritomo qui se rendait à  d'Oshu, s'est assis sur la pierre noire
aujourd'hui vénérée dans le temple. (pourquoi a t'il grimpé une montagne pour se reposer ? l'histoire ne le dit pas...). Alors qu'il dormait, il vit en rêve Sugawara no Michizane - aussi appelé Tenjin Sama - qui chevauchait une vache et annonca que quelque chose de bon allait arrivé. Avec cette bonne augure le protégeant, Minamoto no Yorimoto fonda le temple Ushi Tenjin en 1184.

Depuis lors, la pierre sur laquelle s'est reposé Minamoto est considérée comme sacrée. On lui a attribué la forme d'une vache (vous jugerez par vous même) et aussi le pouvoir de réaliser le voeu de celui qui la caresse. Et ... comme les gens sont plein de ressource, si jamais vous avez besoin de rapporter de la chance chez vous ou de l'envoyer à quelqu'un, il est possible d'humidifier un tissu et de caresser la bouche de la vache avec. Mettez ensuite votre tissu dans un sac en plastique et glissez la poche plastique sous l'oreiller ... votre voeu se réalisera aussi.

- A ce stade, certains se demandent peut-être pourquoi Ushi Tenjin chevauchait une vache ... (et pourquoi il y a des vaches dans tous les temples de Tenjin Sama) Il faut savoir que Tenjin Sama aimait les vaches ! Donc dans le temple vous avez : le rocher-vache noire,  deux statues qui gardent le temple et puis ...  d'un tableau de bois avec des cordes où vous pourrez nouer les omikuji.
- Et puis comme Tenjin Sama et avait comme symbole de sa famille ... la fleur de prunier. Vous savez pourquoi le temple est planté de prunier et le symbole de la fleur est présent partout. 

Voilà pour la première partie. Ensuite ...

Dans l'enceinte se trouvent aussi Ota Shrine et Takagi Shrine et le couple du dieu du divertissement Ame no Uzume no Mikoto et du dieu de la route Sarutahiko Mikoto et Ukanomitama (Mikoto Uka). Tout ce petit monde est supposé porter chance pour les jeux d'argent ... on parle surtout de la lotterie ici. Et puis, pour le divertissement, il est dit que des acteurs de kabuki venaient aussi prier au temple. 

NB : dans les environs vous avez le parc Korakuen (cf nom de la station) qui est beau en toute saison.

NB : Vous pouvez poussez la balade jusqu'à Iidabashi, sa shotengai avec son temple et ses quelques magasins français qui alternent avec les dernières boutiques traditionnelles japonaises.

rare vasque avec un motif de fleur de prunier.

Gods and Deity in Japan

Amaterasu (天照) : *Shinto Goddess*  Amaterasu is the Godess of the sun and even of the universe. She's one of the major deity of Japan. She might appear under different variation of her name :  Amaterasu-ōmikami (天照大神／天照大御神／天照皇大神), or Ōhirume-no-muchi-no-kami (大日孁貴神). Amaterasu means "shining in heaven". The emperors of Japan are supposed to be direct descendant of that Goddess. 

Hachiman [八幡]: *Shinto God* Hachiman is the patron god of the Minamoto family and of wariors, therefor of the samurai in general but he isn't a God of War he is a protective God of Japan and Japanese people and is even worshipped by peasants and fishermen.
The modern reading is "hachiman" but an ancient reading that is still found for the same kanji is [Yawata] or [Yahata]. The Kanji means "God of the Eight Banners", the eight banners being a sign from heaven of the divine birth or Emperor Ojin. The animal related to this god is the dove.
He's the second most revered god in Japan's shinto shrines (first being Inari)

Susano (素戔嗚命/須佐之男命) or Susano-o Mikoto. He is the God of storms - and fertility even if it's not his main attribut - and lives in the sea. He is the brother of Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi.
After he went to the land of the dead, their father Izanagi washed his face in Tachibana river in Miyazaki) Amaterasu was created when he washed his left eye, Tsukuyomi his right eye and Susano when he washed his nose. (With that you can tell right away who will be the messy kid)
After messing with his father and his sister (and I mean badly messing : like putting a dead horse in his sister house) he got everyone angry and there is punished (they cut his bear and his nails ... I guess a manicure salon is a torture place for japanese gods) and he is banned from the sky. 
Once on earth he has the good idea to defeat a dragon with 8 heads in Koshii prefecture. In the tail of the dragon he find a sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi . He gives it as a present to his sister who finally forgive him. Then Susano got married, got many kids and started the Izumo dinasty.

Tenjin Sama (天神様) : We will here use the name under which he usually goes as a deity. But Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真) (845-26 mars 903) is also know under the names of Kan Jōshō (菅丞相), Tenmangū (天満宮) or Kanke (菅家). He is the Grand-son of de Sugawara no Kiyotomo He is a man of letter, a poet and a politician of Japan's Heian Era. He is famous for his poetry skills especially chinese poetry. Even though, as a Minister of Emperor Daigo,  he was forced into exile in kyushu under the pressure of the powerful Fujiwara family. He was rehabilitated after his death and is venerated by japanese as a god of culture named Tenjin. Japanese students are used to invoke this deified character to bring them luck in exams.

A 1857 print by Utagawa Toyokuni III showing the sun goddess Amaterasu, 

the most important deity of the Japanese Shinto religion.

Kotokuji (Akigawa)

Kotokuji (Akigawa valley)

広徳寺

● Address : 234 Kowada, Akiruno, Tokyo 1900151

〒190-0151 東京都あきる野市小和田234

● Transportation : 25min walk from Musashi Itsukaichi (JR Itsukaichi)

● Web : https://akiruno.town-info.com/units/36232/kotokuji/ (japanese)

● Entry Fees : Free

● Event : ?

● Goshuin : ?

Kotokuji Temple belongs to Rinsai sect. It is said to have been founded in 1373 (Oan 6) overlooking the Akigawa River. It belongs to this area of nature in which it is beautiful to walk on a warm autumn day since the trees in the valley are adorned with magnificent colors in this season. The large two-storey gate is said to be the oldest building in the city.

If you are a big tree lover, this temple is mainly famous for its two huge Ginko Biloba which stands behind the big gate. It's obviously gorgeous in the fall when the trees take on their color or the fallen leaves form an equally golden carpet.

The large door itself is an ode to nature. In this temple between fields and small forests, the moss has taken up residence on the roof, it covers it entirely and we see plants that are even beginning to grow.

Also noticed behind the temple, the huge Kaya trees. The Kaya trees of this temple were designated Natural Monument by Tokyo Metropolitan Governement in 1952 !
That's almost 10 years before the gates (in 1969) and long before the Holy Kannon Statue (1991)

* About Kaya Trees

Kaya Tree (Torreya Nucifera) is part of the Taxaceae family. (you may know Yew Tree ... they actually quite a like)  Like many of the trees of this family it has a very slow growth. 

Kaya tree is a specie originating from Japan. Kaya Tree can grow up to 15 meters. 

In the past, almonds were collected from these trees. The almonds were peeled, soaked and roasted. You can then eat the seed inside. The seeds were also used to make oil. They have the reputation of purifying the body and especially clean up the digestive system.

(*image source libre wikimedia)

- Français -

Le temple Kotokuji appartient à la secte Rinsai. Il aurait été fondé en 1373 (Oan 6) en surplomb de la rivière Akigawa. Il appartient à ce coin de nature dans lequel il est beau de se promener par une belle journée d'automne tant les arbres de la vallée se parent de magnifique couleur en cette saison. La grande porte à deux étages, serait le plus ancien bâtiment de la ville.

Si vous êtes un amoureux des grands arbres, ce temple est principalement célèbre pour ses deux immenses Ginko Biloba qui se dresse derrière la grande porte. C'est évidemment splendide à l'automne quand les arbres revêtent leur couleur or et que les feuilles tombées forment un tapis également doré. 

La grande porte elle-même est une ode à la nature. Dans ce temple entre champs et petites forêts, la mousse a élu domicile sur le toit, elle le recouvre entièrement et on voit des plantes qui commencent même à pousser. 

Remarquez aussi derrière le temple d'immense arbre de Kaya. Les arbres Kaya de ce temple ont été désignés Monument Naturel par le gouvernement métropolitain de Tokyo en 1952 !
C'est presque 10 ans avant les portes (en 1969) et bien avant la statue de Holy Kannon (1991). 

* À propos des arbres Kaya

L'arbre Kaya (Torreya Nucifera) fait partie de la famille des Taxacées. (vous connaissez peut-être l'If ... ils se ressemblent beaucoup) Comme beaucoup d'arbres de cette famille, le Kaya a une croissance très lente.

Le Kaya est une essence originaire du Japon. Kaya Tree peut atteindre 15 mètres de haut.

Dans le passé, les amandes étaient récoltées sur ces arbres. Les amandes étaient épluchées, trempées et grillées. La graine à l'intérieur est ensuite meilleure que si vous la mangez fraîche. Les graines servaient aussi à faire de l'huile. Elles ont la réputation de purifier l'organisme et surtout d'assainir le système digestif.

NB : il semble évident que le mieux est de profiter d'une ballade dans les environs pour visiter le temple ... mais je précise quand même ! ^_-

© Toute utilisation des photos nécessite une demande d'autorisation.

Asagaya Shinmeiguu Shrine

 Asagaya Shinmeiguu Shrine

阿佐ヶ谷　神明宮

 ● Address :　1-25-5 Asagaya,　Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-0001

〒166-0001 東京都杉並区阿佐谷北1-25-5
● Transportation : Asagaya  (阿佐ヶ谷 - Tokyo JR Chuo Line)

● Web :  [https://shinmeiguu.com/] (in japanese) or great [Suginami sightseeing website] (in english)

● Entry fees : free
● Event : Kan Okai with dance and songs during cherry blossom season

● Goshuin :  Ok (300￥~1000￥)

● Stamp : No

 ☆  This shinto shrine has a rare large ground sourounded by tall trees that would almost make you forget that you are only 2 minutes away from Asagaya station and its busy shopping streets. 

Shinmeiguu shrine is old. It was the former Shrine of Asagaya old village. 

This place enshrines the goddess Amaterasu (Amaterasu Omikami)

The story says that the legendary Prince Yamato Takeru (72-114?) took a rest in the shrine on his way to fight invaders. The prince Yamato takeru is counted as the 12th emperor of Japan. Since then, Shinmeigu is devoted to the goddess Amaterasu (Amaterasu Omikami) : goddess of the Imperial family end of the sun.

You can go to this temple to pray and remove bad luck. There is also a market hel there every first saturday of each month. And the place is used for many traditionnal wedding ceremony and other events. That's a very lively temple.

★Very close to the station Asagaya, this Shinto Shrine has quite a huge ground compared to many temples in Tokyo. When you pass the big Tori in stones you can let yourself be surrounded by the nature and the sound of the wind in the tall trees all around you.

The Goshuin are expensive beautiful... and expensive but really beautiful. You have 2 special goshuin for each season embroided on a weaved paper.

Seems to be nice during Cherry Blossom Sakura season

★ 8/10

Just so you know it's quite big (but not huge)

Beautiful Goshuin available from June
1000円 each

Beautiful goshuin-cho also

Amanuma Hachiman

 Amanuma Hachiman

天沼八幡神社 

/!\ I will do everything to make you like this place because priest was kind and smiling and I am weak with nice people. /!\

● Address : 2-18-5 Amanuma, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 〒167-0032 東京都杉並区天沼 2-18-5
● Transportation : Ogikubo  (荻窪 - Tokyo JR Chuo Line ou Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
● Web : [https://amanumahachiman.jp/] (in japanese) or [Suginami sightseeing website] (in english)
● Entry fees : free
● Event : Summer Festival - Reitaisai (in August) - Meigen no Gi (on new years eve) ...
● Goshuin : Ok (300￥)
● Stamp : No

Ogikubo Hachiman - Oct. 1924

 ☆ Amanuma Hachiman is dedicated to the God Hachiman. This shrine was founded in the Tensho era (1573-1591) and it has been protecting the former village of Amanuma for 400 years. In the Showa period, Hachiman used to be a small shrine in it's green setting of tall trees in the middle of the fields and even a pond nearby. Today, it's ground is nearby little streets a few steps away Ogikubo Station.


Note the 2 gates (torii) : one in stone and one in the traditionnal vermillon wood.


★ For such a small temple it helds quite a lot of events and it's quite lively. If you're around for new years eve don"t miss the Meigen no Gi Ceremony. It's an old traditional ceremony during which arrows are shoot to scare away bad spirits. 
Here you can see all the events on this page. (in japanese but with enough pictures to understand even with no translators)


Hachiman Jinja shrine offers 2 small but beautiful and inexpensive Goshuin-cho (one is white which is not very common) and the Gochuin is also nice.

On the black and white picture you can see the stone door (torii) that still exists and marks the entry on the left side of the temple.

Arai Tenjin Kitano Shrine

 Arai Tenjin Kitano Shrine

新井天神北野神社


Adress : 4 Chome-14-3 Arai, Nakano, Tokyo 165-0026
〒165-0026 東京都中野区新井4-14-3
Transportation : Araiyakushimae (Seibu Shinjuku Line) -
Numabukuro (Seibu Shinjuku Line)  - Nakano (JR)
Web : http://araitenjin.com/
Entry fees : free
Event : Matsuri the 3rd week-end of September
Goshuin :  Ok (from 10am to 5pm) (Red and Black with a plum flower)

☆ The Arai Tenjin, usually named Kitano Shrine is a Shinto Shrine. The date of its foundation isn't clear. There is a mention of a wandering Bouddhist monk  in the Tenshô era (1573-1592) who would be the founder of the temple. The temple was formally part of the Araiyakushi Baishoin.  But when the temples were asked to separate the Shinto and Buddhist cult (400 years ago) they had to split the sanctuary into 2 distinct temples.

This temple is mostly dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真 845 - 26 mars 903), a writer and a poet who has been deified into a god of Bunburyodo (文武両道 : "The path of brush and sword"). He's praised for culture and letters. Those gods are called (Tenjin : 天神). Students can turn to him to ask success for their exams.
Ukemochi is also one of the deity of the temple. She provides food and prosperity to the village.

 
★ Araitenji is a small simple temple in the middle of the city. You can stop by to see the small but nice moss and treee flowerbeds and caress the cow to get some luck and health.
(The park next to the temple is a bit sad and mostly occupied by homeless people, you better go on the other side of the street to Araiyakushi Baishoin Temple and his bigger park)


★ 6/10 (I want to put a 7/10 because priest were nice but this wouldn't be very honest)

This stone is a present from the firemen of the city.

Caress the cow will give you wealth...maybe

Araiyakushi Baishoin Temple

 Araiyakushi Baishoin Temple

新井薬師梅照院


● Address : 5 Chome-3-5 Arai, Nakano, Tokyo 165-0026
〒165-0026 東京都中野区新井5-3-5
● Transportation : Araiyakushimae (Seibu Shinjuku Line) -
Numabukuro (Seibu Shinjuku Line)  - Nakano (JR)
● Web : ?
● Entry fees : free

● Event : Setsubon ceremony in February
On the 8th, 18th and 28th of each month the temple is open for prayers.
Flea Market once per month
● Goshuin :  Ok (from 10am to 5pm) (Regular Black and Red)

☆ The Araiyakushi Baishoin usually called Araiyakushi is a buddhist temple founded in the 16th century though today's buildings are more modern. It is one of the major temple in Nakano.

The temple is dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai (healing Buddha).
Based on a story of one of the daughter of Tokugawa Hidetada (a Tokugawa Shogun) has been miraculously cure of her eye desease after coming to the temple, the Araiyakushi became famous to cure eye illness.
You can buy ema (絵馬) - wooden card to write your wishes - on wich you will rear "me" which means "eye" (め in japanese) and  shaped as eyes.

Take a moment to go around, see the bell, the 2 floors pagoda and the stone pagoda, the statue of buddha you can shower with water for good luck and also check on the very nice fountain for purification shaped as lotus flower instead of the usual dragon.

★ In the middle of the city, the Araiyakushi of Nakano is a nice temple. It is a bit muddy but it has nice items and it definitely worth your attention when you come to Nakano. Nearby, you can also check on the Arai Tenjin Kitano Shrine (there is a big park in between, not 'unpleasant' but the muddy type)
★8/10

Entry of the temple from the street

inside the temple and the め 'me' cards

The beautiful basin with lotus

You can pour water on his head for luck

The Bell

Raise your head and on the ceiling you will see all the seals from 30 (and more) years ago of people who wanted to thank the temple.

General view