Located in Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan is Shibamata Taishakuten, which was founded back in 1629.
While Katsushika is known for Tora-san, not far from Shibamata Station, Shibamata Taishakuten is a Buddhist Temple that will catch your attention and really sticks out because of its wooden appearance and structures.
The first picture features the Nitenmon Gate that was constructed back in 1896. Under the gate, statues of Zocho-ten and Komoku-ten which are the temple’s guardians.
Dai-Shoro is where the bell is located and this structure was built in 1950.
The garden area of Shibamata Taishakuten.
The building with the modern structure is the Naiden of Taishakudo. Around it are carvings that were completed in 1915 and features unique sculptures (note: it costs 400 yen to go inside and see this and the garden).
Hondo (Main Hall) enshrines the sect founder Nichiren (1222-1282). Haiden of Hondo was constructed back in 1888. Shakado enshrines Shaka (Gautama Buddha) which was erected sometime in the early 19th century.
The Taishakudo is a building dedicated to Taishaku-ten (a.k.a. in Hinduism as Indra), a powerful Buddhist god. People come to offer prayers at this building, which was constructed back in 1929.
The temple is also known as Daikyoji and Shibamata Taishakuten is a temple that can be seen as a Buddhist divinity that is equivalent to the Hindi god Indra.
Unlike many temples in Japan that were destroyed in World War II, Shibamata Taishakuten did not receive any damage. And many structures within the preises were created after the war.
If you are ever in Katsushika, definitely visit Shibamata Taishakuten!
