JINDAI-JI
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Founded in 733, Jindai-ji is the2nd oldest temple in Tokyo area, after Senso-ji in Asakusa. The main gate dates back to 1695. A statue of Amida Nyorai is kept in the main pavilion which was rebuilt in 1919. It is a little bit out of the way and less frequented by tourists than the temples in the center of the city, but it has a very popular and lively atmosphere, especially near the noodle stalls at the entrance.
During the Ganzandaishi festival, at the beginning of March, the temple is transformed into a huge daruma market, one of the biggest in Japan. The round and red figurines that would bring good luck are piled up on the stalls. Once you have found your doll, a priest "opens" one of the eyes by painting a letter in Sanskrit on it. The daruma is then kept for a year, and brought back to the temple the following year, to "close" the 2nd eye. Not to be missed either, the celebration of the autumn moon in October. At this time, the priests chant incantations in front of the main gate (Sanmon).
Behind the temple, a pet cemetery testifies to the love that Japanese people have for their dogs and cats. It is a moving visit that teaches a lot about funeral rites in Japan.
Right next to the temple compound, one can also visit a botanical garden, particularly famous for its thousands of roses with poetic names. It is the largest rose garden in Tokyo and attracts many visitors in autumn.
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