Get 7 Fortunes!!
Get 7 Fortunes!!
Kawagoe, preserving the atmosphere of an old castle town, is known
as “Koedo”(Little Edo, the old name for Tokyo). In Kawagoe, temples
have been enshrining the Seven Lucky Gods since ancient times.
The total distance of the Koedo Kawagoe Pilgrimage of Seven Lucky
Gods is 6 kilometers, just right enough. Please enjoy sightseeing in
Kawagoe and get a blessing, good luck, and good health during the
course. Please note that the required time is an estimate. Please wear
comfortable shoes to enjoy the pilgrimage.
In 2016, the Koedo Kawagoe Seven Lucky Gods Sacred Site
Association celebrated its 30th anniversary and installed suikinkutsu,
literally a “water piano cave,” a type of Japanese garden ornament, in
all temples. Each temple's suikinkutsu has its own unique tone and
sound. Be sure to find your favorite sound during your visit.
The introduction of Seven Lucky Gods and temples follows.
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BISHAMONTEN
< power and influence >
In Buddhism, Bishamonten, called Vaiśravana in Sanskrit, is a guardian deity. Bishamonten brings courage to your heart and mind, and wealth to your house.
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Myōzenji Temple
Myōzenji temple, which belongs to the Tendai sect, was founded by the 28th head priest of Senba Nakain Son’nō Hōin to commemorate his passed parents. The name of the temple refers to the posthumous Buddhist name of Son’nō Hōin’s father. The temple hall was destroyed by fire but rebuilt in 1978.
Honzon, the effigy and the holy image of this temple, is Fudōmyō’ō (Acala), one of the kings of wisdom. Other images of Buddhas worshipped in this temple are Amida (Amitābha), Bodhisattva Kanzeon (Avalokiteśvara), and Bishamonten (Vaiśravaṇa). In the temple garden, you can find a stupa, a mound-like pagoda for relics, and Bodhisattva Jizō (Kṣitigarbha) built in the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573).
There is a statue of the so-called “Sweet Potato Bodhisattva Jizō,” too. The sweet potato is familiar as a symbol of health and beauty. Every year on October 13th, the “Sweet Potato Day'' is celebrated in the temple to express thanks for sweet potatoes, believed to protect people from hunger and starving. You can enjoy sermons and traditional performances during this festival. In addition, sweet potato fortune that prevents cancer is available at the temple to pray for your good health.Sugawara-chō 9-6, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, 350-0046 5 minutes walk from Kawagoe Station (Tōbu Tōjō Line, JR Saikyō Line)
- 11 minutes walk
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JURŌJIN
< longevity >
Jurōjin is a Chinese God, known as the incarnation of Canopus, the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina. Jurōjin grants happiness, fortune, and wealth. Also protects from illness, etc., but is mainly known as a God of longevity.
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Ten’nenji Temple
Ten’nenji temple, also known as Jinenzan Dainichi-in, was founded in September 1554 (the 23rd year of the Temmon era) by priest Eikai Shōnin. You can find a pagoda of 13 images of Buddha, a statue of Bodhisattva Kwannon (Avalokiteśvara), a symbol of a loving mother, or six images of Bodhisattva Jizo (Kṣitigarbha) in the temple garden.
This temple is one of the 13 sacred sites of ancient Musashi Province. The wooden statue of Dainichi Nyorai, celestial Buddha Vairocana, interpreted as the Dharma Body of the historical Buddha, enshrined in Ten’nenji temple is famous as the oldest Buddha statue in Kawagoe. During its long history, the Buddha statue has been worshipped by followers praying for the safe delivery of a child and called familiarly “Dainichi sama.”There is also a statue of praying Kwannon.
People who want to succeed in entrance exams or to be successful in work, love, or marriage, can pray here for their wishes to come true. However, if you want your wishes to come true, it is important to make an effort. Many people visit this temple to pray.Senba-chō 4-10-10, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture 350-0034 15 minutes walk from Kawagoe Station (Tōbu Tōjō Line, JR Saikyō Line)
- 15 minutes walk
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DAIKOKUTEN
< prosperity >
Daikokuten, the God of darkness, was once worshipped as a God of the kitchen, granting a lot of food. Worshiping of Daikokuten grants you prosperity, good fortune, and happiness.
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Kitain Temple
The history of the Kitain temple began in 830 (the 7th year of the Tenchō era) when it was founded by the Great Master Jikaku Shōnin. In 1599, the head priest Jigem Daishi Tenkai received from shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu, ruler of Japan, not only the trust but also large land (around 160,000 m2 ) and annual tax income of 500 koku (an equivalent of 150 million JPY). Due to this huge support, the temple flourished. However, it was destroyed during the Kawagoe Great Fire in 1638 and some parts were moved to the Edo (Tokyo) castle. This sad history is still remembered.
The temple has some assets with high historical value. The birth room of later shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa and Kasuga's Makeup Room were relocated after the Kawagoe Great Fire and are designated as Japan’s cultural heritage.
On January 3rd, the Hatsu-Daishi Festival, known also as a day of protection from evil spirits, is held every year as a part of the New Year Festival with Fudō Gomaku (Buddhist rite of cedar-stick burning, which exorcises the evil and protects people) and Daruma-doll market.
In addition, there are unique statues of 500 Arhats, Buddha’s disciples. The number of statues is actually 535, each having a different expression or posture, giving visitors a sense of calm and inner harmony.Kosenba-chō 1-20-1, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture 350-0036 22 minutes walk from Kawagoe Station (Tōbu Tōjō Line, JR Saikyō Line)
17 minutes walk from Kawagoe-shi Station (Tōbu Tōjō Line)
10 minutes walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line)
- 3 minutes walk
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EBISUTEN
＜purity and unselfishness＞
Ebisuten, a main character of Lucky Gods, brings happiness to all people. Ebisuten has been worshipped by tradesmen.
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Naritasan Temple
The founder of this temple, Shó’on Ishikawa, known as I’shinbó, was a man with a deep faith who overcame many difficulties. After recovering from his blindness, he built Fudó Hall at Hachiman Shrine in Kawagoe and enshrined the spirit of Fudōmyō’ō, one of the kings of wisdom, called Acala in Sanskrit, at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, and rebuilt Hongyó-in Temple in Kubo. His deep faith has inspired many people.
This temple is well known as a place to worship for traffic safety. It’s important to pray to Fudōmyō’ō and pray for traffic safety while holding the steering wheel of the car. Naritasan Temple hosts ceremonies such as Saitō Goma and Goma Shugyō (Buddhist rites of cedar-stick burning). Many followers, who want to purify their minds and want their wishes to come true, visit this temple every year. Naritasan Temple is a place full of faith and spiritual experience.Kubo-chó 9-2, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture 350-0055 25 minutes walk from Kawagoe Station (Tōbu Tōjō Line, JR Saikyō Line)
20 minutes walk from Kawagoe-shi Station (Tōbu Tōjō Line)
15 minutes walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line)
- 8 minutes walk
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Fukurokujujin
＜popularity＞
Fukurokujujin is a deity that possesses the three virtues of happiness, good fortune, and longevity. Brings benefits such as protection from disasters, prosperity in business, and happily long life.
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Renkeiji Temple
Renkeiji temple was built by Renkei Daishi, mother of Daidōji Masashige, the lord of Kawagoe castle, in 1549 to provide people with a quiet and calm place. The head priest was Kanyozontei Shōnin, who later became the 10th master of the Zōjōji Temple, the head temple of the Pure Land Sect. This temple was one of the 18 temples of the Pure Land Sect designated during the Edo period as universities and schools for monks and priests, socalled Kantō Jūhachi Danrin.
Donryú Shónin (1556-1623), who is worshipped here, was supporting poor families, providing education and counseling for people in the community. He was respected by many people in the community during his life. As a pioneer of social work activities, his spirit has been remembered and worshipped here.
The auditorium can be used for a wide range of events and is used as a gathering place for people. The Renkeiji Temple is a place for people in the community to gather and pray, and as a peaceful community base, it continues to be loved by many people until the present day.
Renjaku-chō 7-1, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture 350-0066 10 minutes walk from Kawagoe-shi Station (Tōbu Tōjō Line )
5 minutes walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line)
- 8 minutes walk
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HOTEISON
＜large quantity＞
Hoteison was once a monk. He was not so tall but had a very big belly. He was wandering around with his big sack, providing fortune-telling to the local people. He is the deity of family harmony, family prosperity, fertility, and peace.
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Kenryúji Temple
In 1558, Masashige, the lord of the Kawagoe Castle and a member of the Later Hōjō clan founded this temple near the castle and named it Kenryúji. He asked Kanyozontei Shōnin, a priest of the Denjoji temple in Odawara and a member of the same family clan, to develop the temple. In 1563, Kanyozontei Shōnin became the 10th master of the Zōjōji Temple, a head temple of the Pure Land sect, however, he returned back to Kawagoe in 1566. He relocated the Renkeiji Temple, founded by Masashige’s mother, and ran both temples as affiliated ones. In 1590, in a document assigned by shōgun Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Kenrzúji is mentioned as a temple attached to the Renkeiji Temple. However, the date and other details of its relocation to Kawagoe remain unknown.
Moreover, Chōan’in Temple and Kōunji Temple, which were both dedicated to the last lord of Kawagoe Castle, Yasuhide Matsudaira, were destroyed in a fire, the Buddha statues images had to be moved, and both temples were annexed to Kenryúji Temple. The main temple hall was rebuilt in 1881 (the 14th year of the Meiji period). Memorial tablets, co-called ihai, of the Matsudaira family, which were moved from Chōan’in Temple, are currently enshrined on the right side of the main hall.Moto-machi 2-9-11, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture 350-0062 16 minutes walk from Kawagoe-shi Station (Tóbu Tójó Line)
18 minutes walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line)
- 8 minutes walk
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BENZAITEN
＜love and respect＞
Benzaiten is the only woman among the seven lucky Gods. This Goddess is a patron of language and art, prosperity, and longevity. It’s believed that the Benzaiten Goddess brings good fortune.
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Myōshōji Temple
Myōshōji is a branch temple of Ikegami Hon’monji, the head temple of the Nichiren sect, and is also known as Hōshinzan. Myōshōji temple, originally located in today’s Saiwai-chō, was founded in 1375 by the 4th abbot of Ikegami Hon’monji temple and developed by the Hōshin’in Nichii Shōnin.
All temple halls were originally located in the Taga-chō and Hon-chō districts but they were all relocated to the present place during the consolidation works of Kawagoe castle town by the Matsudaira clan in Edo Period (around 220 years ago).
In March 1992, a new main hall and guest hall were completed at the request of the believers, giving the temple a completely new look.
Every year at Midsummer Day of the Ox (Doyō no ushi no hi), “Enamel Moxibustion (Hōroku Kyú),” an ancient traditional event, is held here. It is said that moxibustion during the hot summer days is effective against heatstroke and headaches. The ritual of placing an unglazed enamel plate on your head and lighting it on fire attracts many pilgrims and visitors.Sankō-chō 29, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture 350-0067 7 minutes walk from Kawagoe-shi Station (Tóbu Tójó Line)
10 minutes walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line)