Horinouchi Myohoji Temple

This is a return visit. This time, I walked from Higashi-Koenji Station, passed through Sanshi-no-Mori Park, headed south along Kannana-dori Avenue, and entered Myohoji Temple from the 'Myohoji Entrance.' Although small, Sanshi-no-Mori Park has a pond and a pleasant landscape. However, Kannana-dori Avenue is quite busy with traffic, which is a bit of a letdown.

Myohoji Temple has recently garnered renewed attention for housing sculptures by 'Nami no Ihachi' (Ihahiro Nobuyoshi Takeshi, 1752-1824) (Nami no Ihachi and Myohoji Temple). It is a head temple of the Nichiren sect. It enshrines a statue of the founder (Soshi-zo) brought from Minobusan Kuonji Temple in March of the 12th year of Genroku (1699). It is a direct branch temple of Kuonji. It is said that the Soshi-zo was carved and prayed over by Nichiro Shonin, a disciple of Nichiren, to pray for the safety of Nichiren Shonin, who had been exiled to Ito, Izu, in the first year of Kocho (1261), and that this led to Nichiren Shonin's safe return three years later. For this reason, it is also known as the 'Yaku-yoke Daishi-zo' (Amulet-against-evil Great Master Statue).
Revisiting the temple, I was once again impressed by the fact that many of the temple buildings from the late Edo period remain intact. First is the Sanmon (Nio-mon Gate, built in the 7th year of Tenmei, 1787). Housed on the left and right sides of the gate are the Kongo Rikishi statues, which were donated by the Kojimachi Hiyoshi Sanno Shrine in the first year of the Meiji era (1868).
Then, diagonally in front of the Sanmon is the Soshi-do Hall (built in the 8th year of Bunka, 1811; said to be 5 ken wide and 7 ken deep). The aforementioned Soshi-zo is enshrined in the Soshi-do. This hall also retains the magnificent sculptures by 'Nami no Ihachi' mentioned at the beginning. The 'Five Dragons' on the kohai (canopy) are one example.
To the right and behind the Soshi-do is the Hondo (Main Hall, built in the 2nd year of Bunsei, 1819). Behind the Soshi-do stands the Senbu-kochu Stone Tower, built during the Kansei era (1780-1800). This stone tower suggests that the faith in Myohoji Temple had spread to a scale far beyond Edo.
In addition to Myohoji, there were many Nichiren sect temples in Edo that enjoyed great popularity among the masses, such as '
Shibamata Taishakuten' and 'Kishimojin at Zoshigaya Homyo-ji Temple,' and there is also the grand head temple, 'Ikegami Honmon-ji Temple.' Seeing Myohoji Temple, I was reminded once again of how strong the Nichiren sect was in Edo during the Edo period.Access: From the subway 'Koenji Station,' pass through Sanshi-no-Mori Park and walk south along Kannana-dori Avenue to reach the 'Myohoji Entrance' shortly.