Zojo-ji

Interesting facts

1. 1

   Six of the fifteen Tokugawa Shoguns are entombed within the temple grounds.

2. 2

   The Sangedatsu-mon gate is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.

3. 3

   Thousands of stone Jizo statues are placed in the cemetery to pray for the souls of unborn and miscarried children.

4. 4

   The current temple buildings were relocated from their original site near the Imperial Palace in 1598 before being completed in 1622.

5. 5

   The bronze gate, known as the Kuro-mon (Black Gate), originally served as the entrance to the Shogun's mausoleum.

6. 6

   The temple layout traditionally follows the influence of the Pure Land Buddhist sect, emphasizing the Western Paradise.

Overview

Zojo-ji is the head temple of the Jodo-shu sect of Japanese Buddhism in the Kanto region and serves as the main family temple of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The current site, located in Shiba Park, houses the mausoleums of six Tokugawa Shoguns, their wives, and children. The temple's Sangedatsu-mon gate dates to 1622 and is the oldest structure in the complex, surviving both the Great Kanto Earthquake and the air raids of World War II. The main hall, or Daiden, was reconstructed in 1974. Behind the main hall lies the graveyard of the Tokugawa family, marked by stone sculptures of Jizo bodhisattvas wearing small red hats and bibs. The temple grounds provide a direct visual juxtaposition between traditional wooden architecture and the modern Tokyo Tower. It remains an active religious site with daily chanting and memorial services.

Insider tips

• Walk through the Sangedatsu-mon gate slowly to appreciate the wooden joinery and architecture.

• Visit the small museum in the basement of the main hall to see artifacts from the Tokugawa mausoleum.

• Observe the cemetery area silently, as this is a place of active mourning for many families.