Tokyo Minato Ward Daimon Gate Series (Part 2): What is the deep relationship between the Tokugawa family and Zojoji Temple? Historical memories hidden in the Daimon Gate

Zojoji Temple is not just a tourist spot

It's a great place to go for a quick weekend getaway or a place to stop by during your lunch break.
Some of you may have visited Zojoji Temple in Minato Ward.
However, if you sense a "solemn and quiet atmosphere" at that moment...
Perhaps this is because I felt firsthand that this temple is not just a tourist spot, but a place with a deep history and an accumulation of prayer .

Zojoji Temple is home to the memories of the Tokugawa Shogunate, who influenced the Edo period.
By following in their footsteps, it becomes even more clear that the town of Daimon is a place where prayer and daily life have coexisted.

Zojoji Temple as the family temple of the Tokugawa Shogunate

Zojoji Temple is a historic temple known as one of the head temples of the Jodo sect of Buddhism.
What is particularly noteworthy is that this is the family temple of the Tokugawa Shogunate .

Zojoji Temple held a special place in the hearts of the Edo Shogunate, as six generals, including the second shogun, Hidetada, are buried here.
At the time, the temple had vast grounds and was lined with magnificent temple buildings and mausoleums, making it a symbol of the dignity and faith of the Shogun family.

"Why Daimon and not Hibiya or Ginza?"
You may be wondering about this, but the area around the Daimon Gate is actually located in the southwest direction (Omote Onimo) from Edo Castle, and was considered a very important protective area in terms of feng shui .
In other words, Zojoji Temple was the "keystone for protecting the heart and capital" of the Shogunate.

When walking through the Daimon Gate today, one's eyes are drawn to the heavy traffic and the skyscrapers, but if one takes a moment to look back, one can see that hundreds of years of prayer have certainly passed by.

How to encounter the "past times" that remain within the temple grounds

Many parts of Zojoji Temple today have been rebuilt after war damage and redevelopment, but there are still several "quiet places connected to the past" remaining within the temple grounds.

For example, the stone gate behind the Tokugawa Mausoleum and the main hall.
Members of the Tokugawa family still rest peacefully there, and every time you visit, you can feel the passage of time and the weight of life .

The cherry blossoms in spring and the autumn leaves in fall are beautiful, and the tranquility of the place makes you want to visit again and again as the seasons change.
For those who find it difficult to find time to take a deep breath in their busy daily lives, spending a few minutes in the grounds of Zojoji Temple may be a kind of "reward for the soul."

In fact, there are a few cafes and spots where you can enjoy light meals within the temple grounds.
It's also the perfect space to enjoy a little time for yourself while feeling the history.

To organize your daily life: The commonalities between history and fermentation

When you learn about the history of Zojoji Temple, the existence of " things that have been carefully passed down for a long time " emerges.
Isn't this a value that is also common to the food we choose in our daily lives?

Even in the midst of a hectic daily life, we want to choose quality products.
Time to take care of your family's health and yourself.
Fermented foods, created using the power of nature and time, support this idea.

At our shop "Kome Dreaming", we offer "Amazake" which makes use of the power of traditional koji. We offer "Koji White / Koji Sakura ".
Although it is non-alcoholic and sugar-free, it has a gentle sweetness and a refreshing taste, making it a drink that makes you feel like you are immersed in the tranquility of a temple .

Perfect for tea time on days when you want a change of mood.
With the lingering feeling of having walked through a historic place.
Or as a thoughtful gift for someone special.

"Something that has been made with care and love."
It may be something that gently accompanies us in our daily lives, just like Zojoji Temple, which has been healing people's hearts for hundreds of years.

In our next article, we will take a stroll around the town and look at the remnants of the temple town that still remain in Daimon.
Stay tuned.

Click here to see the healthy sweet sake "Koji White / Koji Sakura" made by a long-established koji maker with 50 years of history.
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