The Temples and Shrines of Kasai

A peaceful walk around a quiet neighborhood

Peter Sidell Jan 29, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>This was watching me from under the roof</p>

<p>Sitting serenely in his shelter near the entrance to one of the temples</p>

<p>Shinsui shiki no michi, leading away from the station</p>

<p>Every temple or shrine has statues in the grounds</p>

<p>Much of the stonework is beautifully intricate</p>

<p>I think these are Jizo statues, the guardian deity of children</p>

<p>One of the temple buildings, of pleasingly simple design</p>

<p>Always check under the eaves for flying dragons</p>

<p>Some of the Kannon (Goddess of mercy) statues are holding babies or children</p>

<p>I think these are characters from maybe a book or TV show</p>

<p>I have to admit defeat on this one; I have no idea who or what 'Inori' is</p>

<p>One of the temples seen from over its wall</p>

<p>The Goddess of Mercy in a more traditional pose</p>

If you go to Kasai in the eastern suburbs of Tokyo for its fun subway museum, it's also worth exploring the area a few minutes north-east of the station. A little way past the end of the pleasant Shinsui Shiki-no-michi road, there's a quiet residential district with a tight cluster of around ten temples and shrines, some small and intimate, some larger and grander. It's a nice place to spend an hour poking around the different buildings and their grounds and variety of statues, and allows you to get a sense of daily life for the residents of Tokyo's outskirts.

Peter Sidell @peter.sidell

I came to Japan from Manchester, England in 2003, and have travelled a lot since then, around Japan and in Asia. When I'm not working, I write satire and perform stand-up comedy in and around Tokyo. Check YouTube for a taste.