Virtual Yamanote 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Hosho-ji Temple

 

     Hosho-ji Temple was founded in 1641 as the shrine temple of Takada-Hachiman Shrine.

     Back in 1062, on his way back from Mutsu Province after his victory against Abe Sadato (1019-1062), Minamoto Yoshiie (1039-1106) built a small shrine, put away his helmet and sword, and enshrined Yahata God, as he had celebrated his coming of age in front of Yahata God in Iwashimizu-Hachiman Shrine.

     In 1636, Matsudaira Naotsugu, the head of the archery bodyguards of the Shogun, built an archery practice field near the shrine and worshiped Yahata God as the guardian of the practice field.  In 1641, Ryosho, the priest of the shrine, cleared the southern foot of the hill to build a hermitage, and found a cave with a gilded copper Shinto image.  Since then, the shrine came to be called Ana-Hachiman Shrine as “ana” means a cave.  The hermitage became Hosho-ji Temple.  “Hosho” means life release, and the shrine held life release practices every year.

     The shrine was known among Edo townspeople for curing children’s tantrums and convulsions, and even, in 1879, conducted prayers to cure the tantrums and convulsions of the Prince, who became Emperor Taisho later.

Address: 2 Chome-1-14 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162-0051

Phone: 03-3202-5667