Old Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Toen-ji Temple

     Toen-ji Temple used to be a shrine temple of Ichigaya Kameoka Hachiman-gu Shrine, which was founded in 1479, when Ota Dokan built the Edo Castle.  

     He invited the god of Tsuruoka Hachiman-gu Shrine in Kamakura to enshrine it as the western guardian god of the castle.  Instead of “tsuru” (crane) which is believed to live 1,000 years, he used the phrase “kame” (turtle), which was believed to live 10,000 years.  When he built the shrine, he also built the shrine temple, Toen-ji Temple.

     The shrine used to be located inside the Ichigaya Gate of the castle, but was moved to the present place as the outer moat was constructed in 1636.

     The Gods and Buddhas Separation Order was issued in 1868, and Toen-ji Temple was abolished in 1872.

Address: 15 Ichigayahachimancho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162-0844

Phone: 03-3260-1868