Zojoji Buddhist Temple Tokyo

Zojo-ji Temple (増上寺) is a large Buddhist Temple located close to Roppongi Tokyo, just next to Tokyo Tower. The temple was founded in 1393 by the Jodo Shu buddhist denomination as the central monastery in Kando (East Japan) region. The Buddhist practice of ‘nembutsu’ was strictly followed (the recitation of Amida Buddha’s name) The temple was moved to it’s current place in 1598.

Zojo-ji Temple became the family temple of Tokugawa family and also served as the administrative centre to oversee the religious studies and activities of Jodu Shu. Around this time the grounds of Zoji-ji covered 826,000 square meters and contained 48 smaller temples and around 150 grammar schools. There were as many as 3000 priests and novices residing here at that time. The Tokugawa shogunate came to an end when the Meiji Era started in 1868, and an anti-Buddhist movement swept through Japan. During World War II most of this site was destroyed by bombing including the main hall, attached temples and the mausoleum of the Tokugawa family.

Ankokuden Temple is located just to to the right of the main Hall of Zojo-ji Temple. Enshrined in this temple is the Black image of Amida Buddha, which was deeply worshiped by Ieyasu Tokugawa, the 1st Tokugawa Shogun. During the Edo Period it was widely believed to be the image which brings victory and wards off evil spirits. The Black image of the Buddha is shown to the public 3 times a year – 15th January, 15th May and 15th September.

The Mausoleum of Tokugawa Shoguns is located at the rear of the temple containing six of the tombs of the Tokugawa Shoguns and their wives including Princess Kazunomiya (wife of Shogunlemochi). The Mausoleum is closed to the public though is occasional open on special prayers.

Sangedatsumon, the main gate to Zojo-ji is a wooden structure 21 meter tall. The main gate was built in 1622. On the upper level of the gate are enshrined the images of Shakyamuni Budda, Samantadbhra and Manjusri bodhisattvas and the sixteen disciples of the Buddha. The images were sculptured in Kyoto where Zojo-ji was first built.

The Daiden – Main Hall of Zojo-ji Temple forms the core of the Buddhist compound. This building was built in 1974 using traditional Buddhist temple architecture and some modern design. In this hall is the main image of Amida Buddha (Honzon) which was built in the Muromachi Period (14th – 16th Century). At the right hand side of Buddha is the image of Shan-tao who perfected China’s Pure Buddhism and to the left of Buddha is the image of Honen Shonin who founded Jodo Shu.

Daibonsho (the Big Bell) is sounded twice a day – six times in the morning and in the evening. The bell dates back to 1673. The bell weighs 15 tons and is 1.76m in diameter and 3.33m high.

Daibonsho Big Bell at Zojoji Temple Tokyo

As you enter the Zojoji Temple, just on the other side of the main gateway you’ll find a large stone which is considered the Stone Image of Buddha’s Foot.