Zojo-ji has a long history dating back to 1393, but like most temples in Tokyo, the actual buildings and sometimes locations are much more recent due to fires and wars. Zojo-ji was moved to its present location in 1590. Many of the buildings were reconstructed after being destroyed by bombings during WWII. Zojo-ji was the family temple of the Tokugawa Shoguns (1603-1868) and where 6 Shoguns were entombed, though most were destroyed during WWII. Be sure to see the hundreds of cute but macabre Jizo statues dedicated to unborn (miscarried, aborted, stillborn) children.
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Find out more about Zojoji Temple.
Brian Wood-Koiwa @brian.wood
American writer and photographer living in central Tokyo. I have lived in and around the Tokyo metro area for a total of 12 years. I love cities, and you cannot get any bigger than Tokyo! However, I do enjoy the tranquility of the parks and temples that populate the center city and its outskirts....
