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Matsuchiyama Shoden or Matsuchiyama Shoden Temple is a centuries-old Buddhist temple on a forested hilltop, known for its daikon motif, a symbol of love, business success, good health, and harmony.
Location:
Matsuchiyama Shoden Temple, also called Matsuchiyama Shoden Honryuin, is located on a hilltop in the Asakusa area, Taito City, Tokyo.
Matsuchiyama Shoden is a beautiful temple, and the environment is enjoyable. Besides, it is not over-congested like Sensoji Temple.
However, it is 15 minutes walk from Sensoji Temple and 12 minutes from Tokyo Mizumachi or Sumida Park.
However, it’s easy for you if you’re nearby Imado Shrine. Matsuchiyam Shoden Temple is only 2 minutes walk from Imado Shrine.
But it is easy to find out quickly by following Google Maps I linked the below of the post.
History & Meaning:
In a word, Matsuchiyama is a name of a small hilltop in Asakusa, measuring about 10 meters in height.
However, even though it is only 10 meters high, it looks high because the surroundings are plain.
According to history, Matsuchi suddenly came up from the ground during Emperor Suiko in 595 and became a mountain. ‘Yama’ means Mountain or Hill.
At the same time, a giant golden dragon descended from heaven on the top of the Matsuchiyama to protect the hill. Later, people built a temple on the Matsuchiyama, becoming famous as Matsuchiyama Shoden Temple.
Matsuchiyama Shoden Temple is a constituent temple of the Sensoji Temple, belonging to the Sho-Kannon Sect of the Tendai sect of Buddhism.
Shoten -Gu means Shoten Shrine, a good connection between Shintoism and Buddhism. Moreover, Buddhism has a close relationship with Hinduism.
Shoten or Shoden means sacred god or noble god.
Note: Learn more about Shimekazari and New Year decoration here.
Deity:
2nd Supernatural event happened six years later when the area faced severe drought. Again, a Buddhist deity, Kannon, appeared in the form of Daisho Kangiten to save people from the drought.
The area’s people were thankful to the Kangiten. Later, the neighborhood people built a temple to enshrine the deity and placed the deity’s statue to worship here, which became familiar as Matsuchiyama Shoden Temple.
Kangiten is a sacred and noble god. That is why it is always kept hidden from the public to maintain its holiness, and visitors usually are not allowed to see the statue.
Kangiten Deity:
In short, Kangiten is one of the Hindu gods called Ganesha or Ganesh.
Ganesh is also mentioned in Buddhism as Buddhism came from Hinduism. Hinduism and Buddhism is inter-related. Sometimes, the same deity is found in both religions.
Hindu god, Ganesh, has a human body but an elephant head, is one of the gods or Kannon of Buddhism. Gonesh is the god of intellectuals, bankers, scribes and authors, and a remover of obstacles.
Who is Ganesh?
Ganesh was the son of god Shiva and goddess Parvati. Shiva was a vagabond husband who roamed wherever he wished to go. While he was on the trip, his wife Parvati gave birth to Ganesh.
When Ganesh became 10 years old, his father Shiva returned home and wanted to see Parvati. But Parvati was taking bathe and told her son not to allow anyone to see her.
Ganesh never saw his father and neither Shiva to his son. They both did not know each other. Finally, the vagabond’s father got angry and did something unexpected.
Later, Shiva put his elephant head on Ganesh to save him, and that is how Ganesh got the elephant head.
Saving Ganesh putting elephant head symbolizes protecting kids from danger. That is why the Matsuchiyama Shoden Temple, where Ganesh is a deity, became famous.
Purpose of visit:
Visiting shrines and temples is mainly for family, business, and health purposes. So, the purpose of visiting Matsuchiyama Shoden Honryuin is no exception.
However, parents come here to pray for their children’s good health, and single people come here for a suitable husband and wife.
There is a history about suitable marriage, which is mentioned below.
Ganesh was a wicked king in a different incarnation, according to heresy. Nevertheless, Buddha wanted to lead him in the right way so that the citizen of the country live peacefully.
So, Buddha appeared to him in the form of a beautiful woman. Ganesh Ganesh fell in love with the beautiful woman when he saw her and hugged her.
But he felt great and became happy. So Kangiten is worshipped as a God of joy and happiness at Matsuchiyama Shoden Temple. Therefore, people come here to pray for a good marriage partner and be happy in the marriage life.
Things to do:
Whether you pray or not, it is one of the lovely places to visit. That is why many local and international tourists come here to hire rickshaws from Sensoji Kaminarimon.
It is an excellent place for taking photos and remembering a Tokyo trip with a Japanese cultural-religious shrine. Besides, a small narrow path, scent burner, Jizo Statues, and main hall are worth visiting for a cultural experience.
Main Entrance:
The main entrance is decorated with beautiful Japanese lights. People can follow steps from two sides and come to the main entrance.
Visitors can guess how charming the temple is from the main entrance.
After the main entrance, there is a tall Buddha Statue on the right and some cute Jizo Statues on the left. One glittering scent burner on each side where people can burn scent and pray.
In Japan, the statues of Jizo represent the protection of children. Statues are usually with red clothing.
In Japanese mythological tradition, red is the color that mainly repels demons. Therefore, Jizo Bosatsu statues are dressed in shades of vermilion or ruby.
However, grieving parents who have lost their children often give the clothing.
Narrow lovely path:
The Matsuchiyama Shoden Temple has a narrow but lovely path from the main entrance towards the main hall. Even though it is part of a matchmaking shrine as Imado Shrine, the little path structure is the same as Otori Shrine.
After Buddha and Jizo Statues, purification washhouses and other temple-related houses are located on both sides.
However, the most noticeable thing is the main scent burner of the temple, where visitors usually take pictures. It is the most famous spot inside the temple’s precinct.
Main Hall:
Stairs start after the main Scent burner to the Main Hall.
However, people with disabilities or who cannot climb stairs can use Monorail to the Main Hall. It is an elevator but shaped and runs like a monorail. That is why the name of the lift is Sakura Rail.
The Main Hall is magnificent and colorful; both sides have divine-like big money pots, making the temple more stunning.
These divine-looking money pots represent the success of the business of the devotees. Some beautiful flowers always bloom near the money pots.
Daikon Matsuri:
Daikon Matsuri is the biggest festival at Matsuchiyama Shoden Honryuin. It is celebrated on January 7 every year.
However, Hatsumode and Daikon Matsuri come together here. Therefore, more people keep visiting from the end of the year until January 7, Daikon Matsuri.
Kangiten likes daikon because daikon symbolizes his masculinity and is an element of anti-aging that gives long life.
Besides, religiously, people believe that daikon purifies the human body because of its sharp white color, which associates with physical and spiritual sound health. At the same time, physical and spiritual health is the key to a successful business.
People who come here bring daikons as an offering. Daikon pictures are used even decorations, including lights.
Everyone is allowed to enter the mall hall but not take photos. A colorful dragon is painted on the ceiling and an altar of piled daikon.
Worshippers bring daikons to offer during the festival. These daikons are cooked and served to the visitors with sake.
Opening Hours:
Every day: 6.00 -16.30
Admission Fee:
Free
Access:
Nearest Station: Asakusa Station
(Ginza Line/Tobu Skytree Line /Asakusa Line)
12 minutes walk
Tokyo Skytree Station:
(Tobu Skytree Line)
13 minutes walk (TS2)
Honjo-azumabashi Station: Asakusa Line
15 minutes walk(A19)
Book hotel in Asakusa: