29‏/01‏/2014

The Temples and Shrines of Kasai

A peaceful walk around a quiet neighborhood

By Peter Sidell

Community writer

This was watching me from under the roof

Sitting serenely in his shelter near the entrance to one of the temples

Shinsui shiki no michi, leading away from the station

Every temple or shrine has statues in the grounds

Much of the stonework is beautifully intricate

I think these are Jizo statues, the guardian deity of children

One of the temple buildings, of pleasingly simple design

A little sailor boy

A young pilgrim

Always check under the eaves for flying dragons

Some of the Kannon (Goddess of mercy) statues are holding babies or children

I think these are characters from maybe a book or TV show

I have to admit defeat on this one; I have no idea who or what 'Inori' is

One of the temples seen from over its wall

The Goddess of Mercy in a more traditional pose

If you go to Kasai in the eastern suburbs of Tokyo for its fun subway museum, it's also worth exploring the area a few minutes north-east of the station. A little way past the end of the pleasant Shinsui Shiki-no-michi road, there's a quiet residential district with a tight cluster of around ten temples and shrines, some small and intimate, some larger and grander. It's a nice place to spend an hour poking around the different buildings and their grounds and variety of statues, and allows you to get a sense of daily life for the residents of Tokyo's outskirts.

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Peter Sidell

By Peter Sidell

Community writer

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