Zenkoji (Minato Ward)
東京都
Founded in 1623 by the wife of Tokugawa Tadanaga with a replica of Shinano Zenkoji's sacred image — Edo commoners could earn pilgrimage merit without leaving the city; the Aoyama clan graves that gave the district its name remain here
Founded
1623
Type
Temple
Visited
Want to go
Access
5 min walk from Tokyo Metro Gaienmae Station
3-1-6 Kita-Aoyama, Minato, Tokyo
Open in Google Maps ↗
Overview
A Jodo-shu temple founded in 1623 when the wife of Tokugawa Tadanaga enshrined a replica of the principal image of Zenkoji Temple in Shinano. Enshrining the same 'Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai' as the Shinano Zenkoji, it was beloved by Edo commoners who could make a Zenkoji pilgrimage without leaving Tokyo. The grounds contain the famous 'Monkey Jizo' and the grave of the Aoyama family, from whom the p…
Read more
Origins
Aoyama Zenkoji is a Jodo-shu temple founded in 1623 (Genna 9) by the wife of Tokugawa Tadanaga, who enshrined a replica of the principal image of Zenkoji Temple in Shinano — the Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai. By enshrining the same sacred image as the famous Shinano Zenkoji, the temple allowed Edo common…
Read more
Divine Benefits
Purification
Rebirth in Pure Land
Cleansing impurity, spiritual purification, driving away evil. Rooted in misogi ablutions and goma fire rites.
Derived from the enshrined deity "阿弥陀如来"
Posts
0
＋
No posts yet
Goshuin
No goshuin posts yet
Also Worth Visiting
Zojoji
Jodo-shu's head temple founded in 1393, designated by Ieyasu as his Edo castle's southwestern guardian — six shoguns are buried here and the 1622 Sangedatsumon triple gate survives as the largest wooden tower gate in eastern Japan
3.4km
→
太
Taisonji Temple (Shinjuku)
A Jodo temple at the gateway to Naito-Shinjuku post town, where a 3-meter wooden Enma statue and the Datsueba ogress have embodied Edo commoners' vision of the afterlife since the 17th century.
2.6km
→
龍
Ryuganji Temple (Sendagaya)
A mid-Edo Jodo temple in Sendagaya that has witnessed the area's transformation from samurai quarter to stadium district
2.1km
→
朝
Asahi Shrine
A Roppongi shrine of 938-era origins tucked directly behind Roppongi Hills — tech executives and creatives seek its quiet vermilion precincts as a city oasis amid surrounding skyscrapers
1.9km
→
於
Oiwa Inari Tamiya Shrine
Built on the Tamiya family estate where the ghost of Oiwa from Tsuruya Nanboku's kabuki play was born, this shrine is still visited by every actor before staging the famous ghost story.
2.2km
→
花
Hanazono Shrine
The chief tutelary shrine of Shinjuku, adjacent to Kabukicho, renowned for its Edo-period Tori no Ichi festival and the Geino Asama sub-shrine for performing artists.
3.1km
→
祐
Yutenji
Named for Yuten Shonin, the Edo monk famed for pacifying vengeful spirits through nenbutsu chanting
3.6km
→
大
Daien-ji Temple (Ikejiri)
An Edo-period Jodo Buddhist family temple of the Ikejiri and Ohashi districts — generations of locals have chanted Nembutsu here as the village transformed from farmland to modern suburb.
3.5km
→
記
Suggest an update
Suggest fixes to the location, history, visiting hours, access, facilities, notes and more
›
Report incorrect info ›
Get the app for a better experience
Auto stamp via GPS, offline access, and favorites tracking
View in app
＋
Explore pilgrimage with the app
View in app
✕