Kita-in Temple

Kita-in Temple, located in Kawagoe, traces its origins to 830 when the monk Ennin (the chief monk at the time) established Muryoju-ji Temple (of which today’s Kita-in Temple was a part) under imperial orders. Over centuries, it grew into a major center for Tendai Buddhism in the Kanto region. The temple flourished under the guidance of the monk Tenkai in the early Edo period, who gained the trust of the Tokugawa shogunate, ensuring continued support and patronage.
One of Kita-in’s most remarkable features is its collection of buildings relocated from Edo Castle after a fire in 1638 that destroyed many of the temple’s original buildings. The structures from Edo Castle include the audience hall, an ornate room believed to be the birthplace of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and the study, a space used by Kasuga-no-Tsubone, Iemitsu’s wet nurse. These historic structures are designated Important Cultural Properties, and give a rare glimpse into the original Edo Castle architecture that survived centuries of change. Among them is Senba Toshogu Shrine. It was built on the site where a memorial service was held for Tokugawa Ieyasu during the journey to transport his remains to Nikko. This site has deep ties to the Tokugawa family and strongly retains the atmosphere of the Edo period.
The Kita-in Temple grounds are also home to more than 500 Rakan (enlightened disciples of the Buddha) statues, each carved with a unique facial expression, from smiling to contemplative. Seasonal gardens showcase cherry blossoms in spring, plum trees, maples in autumn, and hydrangeas in early summer, making Kita-in Temple a place of history, art, and natural beauty throughout the year.