Old Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Seirin-ji Temple

      Priest Yuso (1426-1509) was born in Kazusa Province.  At the age of 13, he entered priesthood in Komyo-ji Temple, Kamakura.  In 1482, he became the 9th head priest in the temple.  He worked hard not only in teaching but also in propagation.  Seirin-ji Temple was one of those founded by Yuso at the beginning of the 16th century.

     First, it was located at Kanda-Shikencho.  Shiken literally meant 4 houses.  The area was called so because 4 servant priests for the Edo Castle were given their houses there.  That might have been why the temple had to move.  At the turn of the 17th century, Priest Tenreki moved it to Kanda-Yanagihara.  Kanda River was a kind of an artificial canal built in 1620.  It was removed to the present place, Komagome-Shikenji-cho, in 1652.  The area was named so because there were 4 temples there.

     All in all, Seirin-ji Temple has moved according to the city planning of Edo.

Address: 2 Chome-35-3 Mukogaoka, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0023

Phone: 03-3821-2581