A series on visiting Daimon, Minato Ward, Tokyo (Part 3): The vestiges of the temple town that remain in Daimon and the warmth of its people that still thrive today

A temple town is more than just a "path to a shrine"

In the midst of busy days, you might take a little detour from your usual commute route or walking route and suddenly stop by a street corner.
If you are in Daimon, Minato Ward, it is a place that once flourished as a "temple town."

A "monzenmachi" is a small town or street that naturally forms in front of the gates of a temple or shrine.
It was not just a route for pilgrims, but also a "crossroads of daily life" where people could meet, exchange words, and take a breather .

This time, let's trace the history of Daimon as a temple town and the traces that remain in various places around the town today.

Teahouses, souvenir shops, theaters...Memories of a bustling past

During the Edo period, Zojoji Temple was a sacred place visited by many pilgrims as it was associated with the Shogun family.
As a result, a variety of shops and entertainment facilities naturally began to pop up around Daimon.

Particularly common were food and beverage and retail establishments such as teahouses, Japanese sweet shops, and souvenir shops .
The shrine offered sweets and hot tea to people stopping by on their journeys, and was bustling with activity as it celebrated seasonal events and local specialties.

Furthermore, there were theaters and comedy halls scattered around Zojoji Temple, and many people came not only to worship but also to enjoy the entertainment.
The current place name "Shiba Daimon" is a vestige of this name.

At that time, Daimon was a place where people of Edo could enjoy both faith and entertainment at the same time, a place that was truly like an oasis for the soul .

The flavors of a long-established restaurant and the warmth of a street corner remain to this day

Although the bustle of Edo has changed in appearance, it still lives on in this city today.
For example, just a few minutes' walk from Daimon Station, there are tsukudani (simmered food) shops and Japanese confectionery shops that were founded in the Edo period and still have their shop curtains hanging up today.

The atmosphere of this long-established store is elegant and makes you stand up straight, and there's a nostalgic feeling to it.
When I drop in, the shop staff will often ask me, "Where are you from today?" and I often find the conversation comforting.

Daimon's temple town culture continues to this day as a "town connected by the warmth of people."

In modern Daimon, there is a gradual increase in specialty stores selling fermented foods and cafes serving healthy lunches.
You can enjoy delicious food while also paying attention to your health - perhaps the fact that there are more and more such restaurants is a testament to Daimon's past as a place to relax the mind and body.

Enjoy some "temple town time" in today's busy world

In the midst of our busy daily lives, taking time to come into contact with "things chosen by someone" or "things that have been cherished for a long time" can lighten the heart.

People in the past may have also enjoyed sweets and chatted with others in the temple town of Daimon, relieving the fatigue of everyday life.
I hope that we too can cherish these moments of "little peace" now.

For example, slowly sip warm amazake in a teacup.
Such time may be what we living in the modern era call "temple town time."

Our shop "Kome Dreaming"'s sweet sake " Koji White/Koji Sakura is a product created in collaboration with Kodoin, a sub-temple of Zojoji Temple.
Made with simple ingredients such as koji and domestically grown rice, it is packed with comforting gentleness and refined sweetness.

In between work.
Take a moment in the evening to pamper yourself.
Or give it as a gift to someone who has been kind to you.

Just like the temple towns of Edo, you can now enjoy a cup of coffee that you'll want to recommend to others and come back for more, in your daily life.

Next time will be the final episode.
We will be sharing the secrets behind the construction of Tokyo Tower, as well as the story of Daimon and its modern-day "rebirth."
The story will connect the city's past and future, so please look forward to it.

The warmth of the temple town is contained in a cup of amazake
A gentle , unsweetened sweet sake made by a long-established koji maker with 50 years of history. Koji White / Koji Sakura " can be found here:
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