After resting a bit and catching a second wind at Uogashi Nihonichi sushi right next to the Pokemon Center, we realized we were withing walking distance of Zojoji Temple, which was on the list to see. Well, we’re in the neighborhood, and our feet just aren’t hurting enough. Wait, yeah, they were, but we did it anyway.
Walking down the road was a bit too long, probably ten minutes or so, but we managed. We took a short break at a park (yay! benches!) in front of the temple’s main gate. The trees here provided a nice bit of shade.
Sangedatsumon | 三解脱門
The main gate should give you an idea of the size of this complex. The only structure to survive the war, the Sangedatsumon is a suitable entrance into a courtyard with a few smaller structures and statues. Then you walk up the stairs onto the main plaza, with the huge main building and smaller buildings surrounding it.
Main Hall
Behind the main building is Tokyo Tower. We thought briefly about going further towards it, but passed. Viewed from here it was quite enough.
Zojoji Temple is also one of the Tokugawa Shrine locations (I think), in honor of Ieyasu Tokugawa, the Shogun who united the country and put an end to the “warring states” period of Japan.
To the right side of the massive array of buildings is another road, with some smaller structures, and what turns out to be a cemetary, all decorated with pinwheels and bibs on the statues. (I still haven’t figured this one out.)
Breathing a heavy sigh, we prepared ourselves for the walk back to Hamamatsucho station. A study of the map would have proved useful, as there were closer stations that would get us back, but we weren’t thinking clearly at this point, due to the intense cries of pain from our feet. So back on the Yamanote it was. Probably worked out better that way, anyhow.
Getting back to the hotel, we took a much needed break. It was getting on late by this point. I say late, but it was probably 7pm by now.
Dinner tonight would be a combination of a small (very) order of fried shrimp from the “Ooze Charm” Italian place (Yeah, you read that right, just look for the pig mascot! lol.) just up the street from the hotel, konbini onigiri for myself, and a Subway sandwich from the Maynds Tower next door for the Mrs. The less walking at this point, the better.
We vowed that we’d take it easy tomorrow. It was planned as a “catch up” day if we were falling behind, or as a “what can we do today?” kind of day if not.
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Hey there… those little statues with bibs were statues of Jizo, who is a Buddhist bodhisattva, kind of like a western Saint. Not to brng you down, but these are all dedicated to children who have died. Jizo is supposed to protect them in the afterlife. He is often represented as somewhat childlike in appearance himself, although he is supposed to be a Buddhist monk. You may see more adult-like statues of him, as well as the female Kwannon (Kwan-Yin) in Japanese cemeteries.