★★★★★ 5.0
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Honju-in
This quiet temple sits in Japan's most famous writers' neighborhood, yet most visitors walk right past it! In the early 1900s, this area of Minamimagome buzzed with Japan's greatest authors who escaped Tokyo's chaos to write their masterpieces. Novelists like Shiro Ozaki lived just steps away, creating stories while temple bells marked their writing hours. The peaceful gardens you see today once echoed with the scratching of brushes on paper as literary legends found inspiration in this very spot where you're standing.
Did You Know?
- Honju-in (Ekō-in) in Tokyo is famously known as the 'Temple for All Souls,' originally established in 1657 to commemorate the roughly 100,000 victims of the Great Fire of Meireki, many of whom had no surviving relatives. It uniquely offers memorial services not only for humans but also for animals and even pets, reflecting its inclusive Buddhist spirit of Pariṇāmanā—spreading Amida Buddha's benevolence to all beings.
- The temple grounds feature the Banninzuka (Mound of a Million Souls), a poignant monument dedicated to the victims of the 1657 fire. This site is a rare example in Tokyo where a single memorial honors countless unnamed souls, making it a powerful place for reflection on the city's history and the impermanence of life.
- Ekō-in is also famous for its connection to sumo wrestling: the temple once hosted sumo tournaments in the Edo period, and today, the nearby Ryōgoku district remains the heart of professional sumo in Japan. Families and children can enjoy learning about this unique blend of spiritual and sporting history when visiting the area.