If you are heading to Tsukji early in the morning or sometime in the day for the ultimate sushi experience, right before you arrive to the fish market and once you get out of the station, you will see the Tsukiji Hongan-ji temple.
A Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple which practices Shin Buddhism (the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan), its predecessor was the Edo-Asakusa Gobo, a temple built back in 1617 (but unfortunately burned down during a major city fire in 1657).
Because the shogunate didn’t allow the temple to be rebuilt in Asakusa, the temple was relocated in an area known as Tsukiji.
The temple would then endure many more years until it was destroyed in the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923.
So, in 1931, a new temple designed by Ito Chuta of the University of Tokyo was built and would be completed in 1934.
Featuring a unique style that was influenced by temples in South Asia, the temple is highly visited because it houses the artifacts of Prince Shotoku (574-622), Shinran Shonin (a Japanese Bhuddist monk who lived from 1173-1263), the founder of Jodo Shinshu and Shonyo Shonin.
The temple was also known for hosting the memorial for deceased X Japan guitarist, hide and a memorial for the popular musician can be found inside the main hall.
In Tokyo, I have to say that the Tsukji Hongan-ji is one of the most beautiful looking temples with the interior looking beautiful (and expensive).
It’s perhaps one of the most unique looking temples that you will find in Tokyo, but also all throughout Japan.
Definitely worth visiting!
