Last Saturday, we went to the Zojoji temple in Tokyo to watch the Noh theater.

This is the Main Gate "Sangedatsumon". It is majestic and magnificent and remains the only architectural reminder of the early days of the Edo Period, 17-18-19th century, when the original Zojoji was constructed on a prodigious scale.

Zojoji was founded in 1393 as an orthodox and fundamental seminary for Jodo shu in the Kanto (east Japan) region. In 1590 the shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa relocated it to Tokyo to establish his government and Zojoji became the family temple of the Tokugawa family. It continued to be the center to govern the religious studies and activities of Jodo shu, as it is still today. In those days, its precincts covered an area of 826,000 square meters with the big cathedral temple and 48 smaller ones, about 150 grammar schools, and 3000 priests and novices resided here. Zojoji was profoundly affected by the anti-Buddhist movement and World War II in the 20st century, but the cathedral and some temples and buildings have been rebuilt.







The cathedral temple.









The Amida Buddha statue inside the Zojoji.








One of the small shrines to pray for children.












All the statues wear knitted hats and bibs with colorful fans.












The open air theater from the back. In the back of the picture is the big front gate.











A view from the other side shows the big cathedral temple.










Tokyo Tower at night with the Cathedral.