Temples in Tokyo

Discover 10 unusual temples in Tokyo.

Kankan Jizō

Although damaged beyond recognition, this stone god is still said to bring good luck to those who tap on him with a pebble.

Matsuchiyama Shoden

Daikon radishes are offered to the Japanese Buddhist counterpart of the Hindu god Ganesha at this historic hilltop temple.

Owaraji (Giant Straw Sandals)

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way, to keep demons at bay.

Benten-dō Temple

A Buddhist temple on an artificial island that houses a monument to the fugu fish.

Ueno Daibutsu

Only the face remains of this giant Buddha statue, which is said to be a source of luck for students.

Jinnai Shrine

This shrine dedicated to a legendary swordsman has become a pilgrimage site for the ill and infirmed.

Koukokuji Buddhist Temple

Inside the columbarium, thousands of colorful, high-tech Buddhas guard the ashes of the dead.

Garden of Unborn Children

Rows of stone statues are dressed up to mourn children that are lost before birth.

Gotokuji Temple

The legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko is dotted with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.

Sengaku-Ji

This Buddhist temple is home to the graves of the Japanese national legends, the 47 Ronin.

Are we missing something unusual in Tokyo?