Table of Contents
Location:
Nishiarai Daishi is the biggest Buddhist temple in Adachi City in Tokyo. It is located next to Daishimae Station.
Local people used to call the temple Gochisan Henjoin Sojiji. But later, it became familiar as Nishiarai Daishi.
Nishiarai Daishi Temple is a Buzan branch of Shingon Buddhism. The temple is one of the three biggest temples in the Kanto region, and two other temples are Sano Yakuyoke Daishi and Kawasaki Daishi.
It is noted that Adachi City is one of Tokyo’s 23 special wards with numerous tourist spots. Among the numerous tourist spots, Nishiarai Daishi is very popular with tourists.
History:
A famous Buddhist spiritual monk, Kobodaishi, established Nishiarai Daishi in 826 AD.
But Kobodaishi is also known as Kukai. He was born in 774 in Kagawa prefecture. He studied Chinese, Chinese-related poetry, and culture, including religion.
Later, Kobodaishi researched Buddhism and gained in-depth knowledge about Buddhism. As a result, he became a famous monk in the Kyoto area.
He traveled to the Kanto region and found that many were dying because of an epidemic.
Kobodaishi made a wooden statue containing Eleven-faces in a Buddha Kannon, including his facial image in it. He also made a well in a dried land and performed a fire-offering prayer for 21 days.
Supernaturally, water flowed up out of the dry well, and the dry-well water purified people. That is why the temple’s name is Nishiarai Daishi. Nishi-Arai means ‘A new well in the west.’
Main Features:
The temple’s compound has many exciting elements that tourists can see. According to the description of the temple, numerous things to see here.
Wondering what these are?
According to the Nishiarai Daishi website, the main temple ground has 21 spots where the most important are located.
And these are such as 1) Niomon (Main Gate), 2) Shio Jizo(Salt Jizo) statue, 3) Botan Kannon, 4) Dainichi Nyorai, 5) Water cleansing pavilion, 6) Mizuarai Jizo, 7) Insense Burner 8) Main Hall 9) Jizo of unborn and short-lived kids 10) Fudo Hall 11) Adhistana Well 12) Replica of Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage 13) Giant statue of Kobodaishi 14) Chigodaishi 15) Thirteen-story pagoda 16)Benten Hall 17)Gongen Hall 18) Women’s Hall 19) Okunoin Hall 20) Inari Shrine and 21) Peony Garden (Map).
However, these 21 spots are not the last.
There are some more spots to see at Nishiarai Daishi, such as a 700 years old Wisteria tree, ponds with fishes, a giant bell tower, a vast ceremony hall called Komyoden, a famous traditional cemetery, and a lovely traditional Japanese souvenir street in front of the main gate.
But, all spots, including these 21 spots, I want to divide into only five for better understanding.
Komyoden:
The Komyoden is just next door to the Daishimae Station. It is serene and lovely. A small round temple in front of Komyoden is called Hakkakudo looks beautiful.
Komyoden is famous for the Daruma Kuyo ceremony at Nishiarai Daishi.
People bring their old Daruma doll to the ceremony and express their thanks to the doll for the blessing. Simultaneously, the devotees buy a new daruma doll and replace the new one but burn the old daruma doll.
A Daruma doll is a round, hollow, Japanese traditional doll designed after Bodhidharma, founded in the Zen Buddhism tradition.
Even though the Daruma Kuyo ceremony began around 826, the ceremony has been held at Nishiarai Daishi since 1954.
Niomon Gate:
Niomon is the main gate of the Nishiarai Daishi Temple. It is the most beautiful among the temple’s gates.
After passing the Komyoden gate, there is a nice straight path towards the main temple. The first gate is small (see the map), and the Peony Garden(21) is opposite the gate.
It is a lovely gate where Shoin and Main Hall can be seen from the entrance. Shoin is a house used as a private space for Buddhist monks.
However, you can go straight and enter through the Niomon Gate. As I mentioned above, the Niomon or Main Gate is the most beautiful among the gates.
Nio or Kongorikishi word is often found in Buddhism. The term ‘Nio’ refers to two, Agyo and Ungyo, muscular and wrathful Buddha’s protectors.
The Japanese Buddhism history mentions that these two protectors, Agyo and Ungyo, traveled with Gautama Buddha and protected him. Pali Canon also refers to these two protectors.
Because of the Nio protectors, the Main Gate of the Nishiarai Daishi is called Niomon.
As a result, to be protected from danger, these two protectors are kept at every famous Buddhist temple’s main gate. Nio protectors also can be seen in the Hozomon gate in the Asakusa Sensoji temple.
Main Hall:
The Main Hall is the most significant and tallest structure in this location. People can see it from far. Before stepping on the Main Hall stairs, devotees usually purify themselves with smoke from the incense burner.
However, people cannot realize how big the Main Hall is, but as soon as they finish climbing up the stair realize that the Main Hall is vast. Therefore, people pray here and give offerings before prayer.
The most exciting matter is that people usually enjoy the scenery of the Nishiarai Daishi temple from here. Visitors can see all around the temple from here. It is the best place to take pictures of the surroundings. Significantly fewer visitors come down from here without taking photos.
Right of Main Hall:
Most of the important monuments and statues are on the right side of the Main Hall. If you look on the Main Hall’s right side, you will see a nice view and can capture it all at a glance.
Among the many important statues and monuments on the right side is the Thirteen-story Pagoda, Replica of Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, Dainichi Nyorai, a statue of Kobodaishi, and a traditional Japanese style pond.
However, there is one three-story pagoda, Sankodo looks impressive. Shio Jizo or Salt Jizo(2) is believed to be a healing deity. Many devotees splash salt on the statue to be healed from their body pain.
The most exciting thing is the Omikuji counter is vast here, and the staff who sell Omikuji seems to be hesitant to be in the pictures.
It probably, hundreds of tourists visit every day and take photos; it is not attractive to them. Instead, they prefer not to be in the pictures and close the windows to block so that cameras cannot capture them.
But it does not mean that you cannot take photos. But, of course, sometimes, some Omikuji counters hung leaflets or signs about not taking pictures. Then visitors should not take pictures.
However, they are very friendly and helpful. Never hesitate to ask them about anything you want to buy, and I am sure you will be satisfied with their response.
Near Niomon:
Only a few spots are located on the left side. These spots are also exciting to foreign tourists, such as a 700 years old Wisteria tree, a tall bell tower, a small pond with lovely fishes, Shoin, Inari Shrine(20), and a Water cleansing pavilion.
The small rocky pond is between the wisteria tree and the bell tower. The good thing is visitors can relax under the Wisteria tree and enjoy the temple’s beautiful views.
Most importantly, I did not see any bell tower at any temple in Tokyo as tall as Nishiarai Daishi. Visitors can experience lovely in the clean rocky pond water here.
Besides, there is a small spot of the Inari shrine(20) at the back. It is usual in every pagoda to keep a small shrine representing the coexistence of Buddhism and Shintoism.
Surroundings:
What else can you do?
In a word, many things to do in the surroundings of the temple.
Adachi City is not congested like Ginza or Asakusa area. Therefore, it is a perfect area to experience Japanese culture. So, at least you can walk around the temple wall and find out many small restaurants and shops.
Similarly, you can find some good souvenir shops in front of the Main Gate. The street is lovely and full of traditional Japanese souvenirs.
In addition, there are some excellent restaurants where tourists can enjoy real Japanese foods.
Festivals:
Hatsumode is famous in Japan. It is a traditional religious custom to go to temples and shrines to offer a prayer for everyone.
Of course, it is called the first visit or first prayer of the year, and it is called Hatsumode in Japanese.
Traditionally, there is a custom to ring the bell 108 times during the New Year. But at Nishiarai Daishi, the bell can ring more than 108 times, starting from .0 AM.
Setsubun is a day that is held on 3rd February. During the day, people throw beans to invite good luck.
It is also a day of burning old dolls.
Hana Matsuri or Flower Festival is very famous here. It is actually Buddha Birthday.
The temple celebrates Buddha Birthday on 8 April every year. Peonies, Cherries and Wisterias bloom during the time.
There is one more popular festival at Nishiarai Daishi called Bon-Odori. It is a summer festival, held in late August.
But it is also known as a traditional dancing festival for foreign visitors.
Access:
Train:
0-minute walk: Dashimae Station (Tobu Daishi Line)
Car:
There is specific parking for tourists here. But there are lots of parking around the temple.
Cycle:
Cycling is fun in Tokyo. Every street has a particular line for cycling facilities. If you go by bicycle, you can park your bike anywhere nearby the temple. But before parking be sure how long you can park there. Usually, keeping a bike near the entrance is no problem.
In short, to access Nishiarai Daishi, the train is the best. But if you live in Tokyo or you have time to roam, then the cycle is also one of the good options because the area is worth seeing.
Address:
Nishiarai Daishi Temple, 1-15-1 Nishiarai, Adachi City, Tokyo.
Official website: Nishiarai Daishi
Additional tips:
Are you still looking for something? You can find cheap hotels, restaurants, tourist spots, and tourist activities in Tokyo.
But never forget to book online, and you will save time. Most of the tourists usually keep booking online beforehand in Tokyo.