Kaneiji Temple

Tōeizan Kaneiji, intimately tied to the Tokugawa shoguns and founded by Tenkai to resemble Kyoto’s Enryaku-ji Temple, became a major spiritual and political nexus in Edo. As the Tendai sect’s head temple in the Kanto region, it was a formidable religious and political force. The temple’s principal image, the Medicine Buddha, is a hidden treasure and an Important Cultural Property. Kaneiji was also renowned for its cherry blossoms, contributing to its cultural significance.

The temple faced severe destruction during the Boshin War’s Ueno War, and the Meiji Restoration led to the confiscation of its extensive grounds, further reducing its size and influence. Kaneiji Temple persevered, retaining several historical structures and artefacts. Remnants of its grand past, such as the five-story pagoda and the Bentendo Hall on an island in Shinobazu Pond, continue to impress visitors. The temple’s cemetery, with the tombs of six Tokugawa shoguns, adds to its historical presence.

At Kaneiji, the main hall is a key site, housing the revered Medicine Buddha. The Kiyomizu Kannon Hall, another important cultural property, and 19 sub-temples within the precincts, located near cultural landmarks, offer a deeper understanding of the temple’s extensive legacy.

The remaining structures of Kaneiji, including parts of the Ueno Great Buddha, along with various gates and pagodas from the Tokugawa shogunate mausoleums, enrich Tokyo’s cultural heritage and attract those seeking to connect with Japan’s past.