Matsuchiyama Temple: All About the Money
Attribute: Wealth Luck, Harmonious Family Relations.
This large stone and wood temple, it is all about the money. One of the Seven Gods of Good Luck, Bishamonten, is enshrined here. The God of Warriors, he is an aggressive looking fellow all in armor. He is also associated closely – and unashamedly – with treasure. Lots of it. After all, money is so often the catalyst for war.
Matsuchiyama is the popular name for Honryuin Temple. The temple's principle symbol is Kinchaku, golden money bags. These big, bold money bags are a motif repeated everywhere on the temple grounds. Roof tiles carry the theme up and over the temple itself and even the large cisterns on either side of the shrine are shaped like giant bags of loot.
You can pretty much guess what everyone prays for when they come here.
There has been a temple on this sacred hill for 1400 years. In addition to money bags, you'll also see two crossed white daikon radish carved and painted in roof tiles and in forged bronze around the temple grounds. Some visitors like to interpret the daikon motif in crude ways, but actually they symbolize personal and family relationships and health. At New Years, some Shinto shrines in the countryside give visitors a white radish as a symbol of health and plenty. Visitors take the radish home and prepare it with their meal, thereby ingesting all the lovely goodness from the shrine.
Just a little over a block away is charming Imado Jinja and their beckoning cat couple, where it's all about making love, not war.
What to Buy: A good luck omamori.
Bathrooms: No.
Website: Japanese only, http://members2.jcom.home.ne.jp/matuti/
Festivals: Matsuchiyama is at its most festive during the first week of the New Year for the Seven Gods of Good Luck pilgrimage. The Radish Festival, Daikon Matsuri, is held in January.
Access: Asakusa Metro Station, 10-15 min. walk. Take Exit 7. At the top of the stairs go to your right and out of the building. (You're practically under the train tracks here.) The street in front is Edo Dori. Cross to the other side of the street and walk to the left, keeping the Sumida River on your right. It's a great walk with views of Sky Tree peaking out here and there. Matsuchiyama is almost opposite the baseball field. You'll see the greenery. Cross the street to the left. Go up the stone steps.
Mobility Impaired: Unfortunately, this temple is not wheelchair friendly in any way. There are many stairs, all of them steep and no ramps. If you can manage the stairs, take the elevator at Exit 1. Go to your left and cross the street at the big intersection. This is Edo Boulevard. Cross to the other side of the street and go to the left, keeping the Sumida River on your immediate right. Walk for about 15 minutes. At the baseball field, cross the street to the left.
Hours: 6:30-4:30
Address: Matsuchiyama Shoden, 7-4-1 Asakusa, Taito-Ku, Tokyo 111-0032.
Tel.: 03-3874-2030
Attribute: Wealth Luck, Harmonious Family Relations.
This large stone and wood temple, it is all about the money. One of the Seven Gods of Good Luck, Bishamonten, is enshrined here. The God of Warriors, he is an aggressive looking fellow all in armor. He is also associated closely – and unashamedly – with treasure. Lots of it. After all, money is so often the catalyst for war.
Matsuchiyama is the popular name for Honryuin Temple. The temple's principle symbol is Kinchaku, golden money bags. These big, bold money bags are a motif repeated everywhere on the temple grounds. Roof tiles carry the theme up and over the temple itself and even the large cisterns on either side of the shrine are shaped like giant bags of loot.
You can pretty much guess what everyone prays for when they come here.
There has been a temple on this sacred hill for 1400 years. In addition to money bags, you'll also see two crossed white daikon radish carved and painted in roof tiles and in forged bronze around the temple grounds. Some visitors like to interpret the daikon motif in crude ways, but actually they symbolize personal and family relationships and health. At New Years, some Shinto shrines in the countryside give visitors a white radish as a symbol of health and plenty. Visitors take the radish home and prepare it with their meal, thereby ingesting all the lovely goodness from the shrine.
Just a little over a block away is charming Imado Jinja and their beckoning cat couple, where it's all about making love, not war.
What to Buy: A good luck omamori.
Bathrooms: No.
Website: Japanese only, http://members2.jcom.home.ne.jp/matuti/
Festivals: Matsuchiyama is at its most festive during the first week of the New Year for the Seven Gods of Good Luck pilgrimage. The Radish Festival, Daikon Matsuri, is held in January.
Access: Asakusa Metro Station, 10-15 min. walk. Take Exit 7. At the top of the stairs go to your right and out of the building. (You're practically under the train tracks here.) The street in front is Edo Dori. Cross to the other side of the street and walk to the left, keeping the Sumida River on your right. It's a great walk with views of Sky Tree peaking out here and there. Matsuchiyama is almost opposite the baseball field. You'll see the greenery. Cross the street to the left. Go up the stone steps.
Mobility Impaired: Unfortunately, this temple is not wheelchair friendly in any way. There are many stairs, all of them steep and no ramps. If you can manage the stairs, take the elevator at Exit 1. Go to your left and cross the street at the big intersection. This is Edo Boulevard. Cross to the other side of the street and go to the left, keeping the Sumida River on your immediate right. Walk for about 15 minutes. At the baseball field, cross the street to the left.
Hours: 6:30-4:30
Address: Matsuchiyama Shoden, 7-4-1 Asakusa, Taito-Ku, Tokyo 111-0032.
Tel.: 03-3874-2030
