Tokyo | Otherworldly Tsukiji Honganji Temple Hosts Bon Odori Festival

For architecture enthusiasts, Tsukiji Honganji Temple is definitely one of Tokyo's most worthwhile sights. This temple, part of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji sect, was once destroyed by fire. Devotees worked together to reclaim land and rebuilt the temple, but it was razed to the ground again by the Great Kanto Earthquake.

The current building, designed and built in 1934 by architect Chuta Ito, incorporates Indian and Chinese influences, resulting in an avant-garde design. The building's dome-shaped roof is shaped like a bodhi tree leaf. A lotus flower is painted in the center of the facade, and the main hall features stained glass, giving it a feel of both a church and a Buddhist temple.

While exploring the area, you'll find numerous animal sculptures, including lions, horses, peacocks, and elephants. The introduction even states that the building houses the Four Sacred Beasts: Azure Dragon, Vermillion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise. However, despite searching for a long time, I couldn't find any.

On my second visit, hoping to capture the beautiful night scene, I unexpectedly caught the Bon Odori Festival. This is Japan's Ghost Festival, where people gather to dance and welcome their ancestors. The square in front of Honganji Temple was packed, and vendors selling snacks and drinks made Ghost Month as lively as a carnival.

📍Address: 3 Chome-15-1 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-8435, Japan
🚗A two-minute walk from Tsukiji Station
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Post by 旅行中的野馬 | Sep 25, 2025