Tōkaku-ji Temple is located about 20 minutes by train from Tokyo Station.
Tōkaku-ji Temple (Hakuryūzan Lifenin) is a temple of the Toyozan school of the Shingon sect, whose head temple is Hase-ji Temple in Nara, and was founded in 1491 by the monk Genga, initially located near the current Akihabara area.
Later, in the late 1590s, it was moved to its current location at Tabata, Kita-ku, Tokyo.
During the Edo period (1603-1867), the temple flourished as an official prayer temple of the Tokugawa family and was given the crest of hollyhock, the Tokugawa family crest, as the temple’s symbol.
However, most of the buildings were destroyed by fire in air raids during World War II.
The present main hall was rebuilt in 1967 and is still worshipped as an important temple in the community.
In such Tōgaku-ji Temple, there is a mysterious object covered with red tags.
This is called “Akagami Niou,” a tangible folk cultural asset of the area.
In front of the gomado hall next to the temple gate of Tōkaku-ji Temple, there are a pair of Nio statues called Akagami Nio.
These statues were dedicated to the TABATA Hachiman Shrine in 1641 by the Buddhist priest Doyonosonin, and were moved to this temple during the separation of Shinto and Buddhism in the early Meiji period (1868-1912).
The Nio statues are composed of an A-zo statue with its mouth wide open (motion) and an Un-zo statue with its mouth closed (stillness), representing the beginning and end of the universe according to the teachings of esoteric Buddhism.
It is customary to affix red paper to these statues, which were erected in the early Edo period (1603-1867), to cure illness.
The custom is for visitors to visit the statues in turn, from A to Un, and to dedicate their sandals when their prayers are answered.
Red paper to be pasted can be purchased at the office on the left side of the temple.
A set of two pieces of red paper and two bundles of lit incense sticks cost ¥320.
The reason for the two pieces of red paper is for each of the two statues, A and Un.
After offering incense to each statue, please place the red paper on the same place on the statue of Nioh where you want to heal your own body.
The order of application is to start with the A-zo on the right. Pray to the A-Un statue on the left side in the same way.
Later, when the body is healed, a ZORI(Japanese sandals) is offered as a token of gratitude.
You can also purchase ZORI as a thank-you in our office.
●Tokaku-ji (Akagami Niou) 2-7-3 Tabata, Kita-ku, Tokyo
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