Encho Matsuri at Zenshoan Temple

圓朝まつり

4.2Est. 1.5 hrsTokyo, Kanto

JTA ListedListed in the Japan Tourism Agency's official tourism databaseSummer festivalThis venue's season is tied to specific event dates; check the source before you go.

Read about Cultural context

Overview

Zenshoan, a temple of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, is closely associated with an epoch-making event in modern Japanese history.

Zenshoan Temple in Tokyo's Yanaka neighborhood was founded in 1883 by Yamaoka Tesshu, a samurai bodyguard who negotiated the bloodless surrender of Edo in 1868. After the civil war, Yamaoka created the temple to memorialize all who died in the conflict, regardless of which side they fought on, at a time when only imperial loyalists were honored at official shrines. The temple's name comes from a piece of calligraphy by 13th-century Zen master Lanxi Daolong, passed down through generations of a local family and given to Yamaoka, who is said to have founded the temple on the spot where the master's ship ran aground.

Practical info

Japanese name: 圓朝まつり
Nearest station: Nippori Station (7 min walk)
Payment: Cards accepted
Reservations: No reservation needed. Free public event. Check dates on the local tourism website. Book accommodation early as hotels fill during major festivals.

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