Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple, Kanagawa

Kawasaki city located in the northeastern part of Kanagawa prefecture. Kawasaki City is a large city with a population of more than 1.5 million, adjacent to Tokyo on the north side and Yokohama on the south side. Speaking of Kawasaki City, there are people who have strong images of industrial areas and that it is difficult for people to see the image as a sightseeing spot. However, in Kawasaki there are scattered sites around the city that are perfect for adult dating.
Among them, “Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple” which is always in the top ranking of the number of visitors of Hatsumode (New Year’s visit to a shrine or a temple) is a popular temple visited by about 3 million visitors a year. It boasts about 890 years of history and is known as “Yakuyoke Daishi” (Great teacher for warding off evil) which removes all disaster.
The highlight is “Gomakito” (the Buddhist rite of burning wood sticks) which is performed every day in Great Main Hall. It is said that “Gomakito” can burn human earthly desires by Buddha’s wisdom flame. The visitors worship with their respective wishes. There is no need to make advance reservation, but it is a good idea to check the time in the official website in advance.
There are many other sacred places in the vast precincts. About 150 meters from Daisan – mon Gate, Nakamise Shopping Street continues, and the unique shops that make worshipers crush their hearts will be joined together.
Also, in the “Wind Chimes Market” held in July every year, 30,000 wind chimes of 900 kinds gathered from all over the country line up in the precincts. They let the cool jingle sounds around and make the hearts of the worshipers calm.

Many visitors come from all over the country

Kawasaki Daishi is well-known as a nationwide as Yakuyoke Daishi (Great teacher for warding off evil). Actually it is commonly known as Kawasaki Daishi, the official name is “Kongosan Kinjoin Heikenji Temple”. Like the Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple and the Takaosan Yakuo-in Temple, it is the head temple of “Chizan School of Shingon Sect”. It is a historic temple that celebrated its 890th foundation in 2017. In addition to warding off evil, it is famous as a place of worship of Hatsumode (the practice of visiting a shrine or a temple during the New Year), and many visitors come from all over the country at the beginning of the year.

Go through this gate first while being watched by the Buddha statue

“Dai Sanmon” (Big temple gate) was built in 1977. Four Buddha statues are placed, Jikokuten (Dhrtarastra) in the east of the gate, Komokuten (Virupaksa) in the west, Zochoten (Virudhaka) in the south and Tamonten (Vaisravana) in the north. First of all, let’s go through this gate first while being watched by the Buddha statue.

Indicating the stage until the training is completed

There is “Tsuru no Ike” (Pond of Crane) that the crane was flying in the past when you walked a bit from “Octagon Five-storey Pagoda”. There is “Yasuragi Bridge” by the side. In the handrail, Sanskrit is engraved one character at a time, indicating the stage until the training is completed.

“Yakushi Nyorai” (Healing Buddha) is enshrined

Crossing “Yasuragi Bridge” and proceeding to the back is “Yakushiden Hall”. Unlike other buildings, Indian style architecture attracts attention. In “Yakushiden Hall”, the “Junishinsho” (the twelve protective deities) that protects the image of “Yakushi Nyorai” (Healing Buddha), which is said to heal diseases and disorders of the body, is enshrined.

Burning human affection with the wisdom fire of the Buddha

At Kawasaki Daishi, “Gomakito” is held every day at Main Hall every day. “Goma” is a Sansaku word “homa”, burning human affection with the wisdom fire of the Buddha. Here, from great purification prayers, praying for better fortune such as well-being of the family and business prosper, people will wish and worship.

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