Tokyo Stroll｜Ikegami Shichifukujin Pilgrimage A walk around the gods of the gate town of Ikegami, Ota-ku

What is Ikegami Shichifukujin?

Today’s route: Ikegami Shichifukujin roundabout stroll

A.Start Ikegami Station
B.Sozenji Temple (Hotei)
C.Mimyoan　Temple（Bishamonten）
D.Honkoji Temple（Daikokuten）
E.Gonjyouin Temple（Benzaiten）
F.Honjyoin Temple（Fukurokuju）
G.Shoueiin Temple（Jurojin）
H.Youugenji Temple（Ebisu）
I.Goal Ikegami Station

Start of Ikegami Shichifukujin pilgrimage stroll

A.Start Ikegami Station

Tokyu Ikegami Line Ikegami Station is 3 minutes from Kamata Station and 19 minutes from Gotanda Station.

Passing through the busy shopping area of the city centre, turn left at the railway crossing and walk straight down the quiet street.

B.Sozenji Temple (Hotei)

Hotei

Marital harmony、Pregnancy

For those who collect stamps for the Seven Lucky Gods Tour, coloured paper is sold at each temple. You can buy them at the starting temple and visit the temple. Today we start our tour at Sozen-ji Temple. Hotei, the deity of Hotei, is believed to be an incarnation of Maitreya Bodhisattva, who bestows luck, happiness and perseverance.

The Soto sect was founded about 800 years ago during the Kamakura period (1185-1333) by the Zen master Dogen, who introduced Buddhist teachings from China.
There were no Soto Zen temples in the Ikegami area. In 1939, an application to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for permission to build a new Soto Zen temple was rejected, so the temple was renamed Seikoin Temple, originally located in Ushigome, and renamed Sozenji Temple, and a hall was built on the site. The present building was rebuilt after the war.

Although it is spacious, you will be walking along a quiet road with few cars.

C.Mimyoan　Temple（Bishamonten）

Bishamonten

Successful career and good fortune

Mimyoan was built as one of the halls of Kakugenji, the pagoda of Honmonji Temple. It belongs to the Nichiren sect of Buddhism. The main deity of the temple, Bishamonten, is a statue said to have been found off the coast of Shinagawa and has since been worshipped as one of the seven gods of fortune of Ikegami, Bishamonten. The date of construction of the subtle hermitage is unknown, but it seems to have been built as part of Kakugenji, the pagoda of Ikegami Honmonji, a temple of the Nichiren sect. Bishamonten, one of the four heavenly kings, also known as “Tamonten”, is the only one of the seven deities of good fortune to take the form of a warrior. Believers worship Bishamonten as the god of harmony and happiness.

Take a short walk from here.

Cross the Daini Keihin and head straight down a quiet side road towards Kugahara.

D.Honkoji Temple（Daikokuten）

Daikokuten

Economic fortune、Descendants prosperity

The temple was founded in 1597 by Saint Nichinoh, a disciple of Nisshin, the 12th head of Honmonji. On the west side of the main hall is the Shichimen-do (Hall of Seven Faces), which houses a statue of the seven-faced Tennyo (Heavenly Maiden) donated by the Kishu Tokugawa family in 1699.

Since the Genroku era (1688-1704), the seven-faced nymphs have been the focus of attention as objects of faith to protect the prosperity of the Latter Day of the Law, and this hall, also known as “Kugahara no Shichimen-ten”, is revered by many believers.

From here, we will return to Ikegami.

Cross Daini Keihin and walk towards Honmonji.

E.Gonjyouin Temple（Benzaiten）

Benzaiten

Clear-headed、Matchmaking

It was founded in 1289 by Genjoin Nichison Shonin, a direct disciple of Nichiro Shonin, the second generation of Ikegami Honmonji Temple. It is said that in 1536 the temple merged with Jojubo, which was next to Nishinoin in Nishitani, and built a hall on its present site. There used to be a statue of Benzaiten on the grounds of Jojubo, and this statue is enshrined in the stone Bentengu Shrine as one of the Ikegami Seven Lucky Gods.

In 1920, the “child-rearing Kishimojin” was requested, and in 1931, Kishimojindo was built as a separate temple in front of the main gate of Honmonji Temple.

Turn in front of the Sanmon Gate of Ikegami Honmonji Temple and head towards the entrance.

F.Honjyoin Temple（Fukurokuju）

Fukurokuju

Wish fulfillment

Fukurokuju is worshipped as the deity of the elderly, bringing good fortune, wealth and longevity.

Honjo-in Temple was built during the Kamakura period as a hermitage for Hyuga Shonin, a direct disciple of the Nichiren sect. During the Keicho era (1596-1615), it was developed as a retreat for Nichison Shonin, the 13th head of Ikegami Honmonji Temple, but was destroyed by fire during the Hoei era (1704-1711). During the Kyoho period (1716-1736), it was moved to its present location and rebuilt to become Honjo-in.

Walk along the Nomi River towards Ikegami-dori.

You have to climb some steep stairs from the side of Myokendo, but if you are worried about going up and down stairs, you can also go from the lift in nearby Ikegami Hall.

G.Shoueiin Temple（Jurojin）

Jurojin

Health and longevity、Longevity and prosperity

Climbing the long, steep stone steps of Myokenzaka, you will see the temple of Myokendo. On the left side of the grounds is a small shrine where Jurojin is enshrined.

Myokendo was built in 1282 as the hermitage of Hyuga Shonin, a direct disciple of Nichiren Shonin. It fell into disrepair after Nichiren’s death, but was later rebuilt.

In 1688, a school for the training of monks called Nankoku Danrin was established, which trained many high-ranking monks. It existed until 1869, when it was abolished. It is one of the main temples of Honmonji Temple, and a standing statue of Myogon Bodhisattva is enshrined in Myokendo on the mountain. This statue was dedicated in 1664 by Kato Kiyomasa’s daughter, Yorinin, to pray for peace in this life and happiness in the future for her husband, Kishu Tokugawa Yorinobu.

Continue along the Nomi River towards Ikegami-dori.

H.Youugenji Temple（Ebisu）

Ebisu

Business prosperity

The only Japanese god of the Seven Lucky Gods, Ebisu is the god of fishing, holding a sea bream in his left hand and a fishing rod in his right. He is also worshipped as the god of business prosperity.

Yogen-ji Temple was founded in 1648 by Yogen-indonon Myoso Hinaga Daishi, the mother of Matsudaira Takamasa (great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu) of Izumo, and was originally Honjo-ji Temple in Hamatake Village, Ebara District. It was moved to this area, owned by the Matsudaira family, and rebuilt as Yogen-ji Temple. This temple was also used as a resting place for Tokugawa Yoshimune’s falconry. However, it burned down in 1804 and continued as a nunnery until after the Pacific War.

Return along the Nomi River towards Honmonji Temple and turn left at the station entrance to return to the station.

I.Goal Ikegami Station

Today’s walk ends with the return to Ikegami Station, the starting point. How was the tour of the Seven Lucky Gods in Ikegami? May it benefit you all, and thank you for your hard work.

A.(Start） Ikegami Station
↓　500m
B.Sozenji Temple (Hotei)
↓　700m
C.Mimyoan　Temple（Bishamonten）
↓　950m
D.Honkoji Temple（Daikokuten）
↓　950m
E.Gonjyouin Temple（Benzaiten）
↓　1000m
F.Honjyoin Temple（Fukurokuju）
↓　700m
G.Shoueiin Temple（Jurojin）
↓　200m
H.Youugenji Temple（Ebisu）
↓　800m
I.Goal Ikegami Station
Total 5800 m, 2~3 hours

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