Following a fire in 1638 the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu, ordered several structures from Edo Castle to be moved to Kitain to help rebuild the temple. As the buildings that remained in Edo Castle were subsequently destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 or in the air raids of World War II, these are the only original structures of Edo Castle that survive today. Kitain Temple is also famous for its 538 statues of the Rakan, disciples of the Buddha, as well as for being the head temple of the Tendai Sect in the Kanto Region.

Information
Location
Kawagoe Kita-in Temple, 1 Chome-20-1 Kosenbamachi, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-0036
« Google Maps »
Getting there
10 minutes south-east of the main street.
You May Also Like

Gotokuji Temple

Gotokuji (豪徳寺, GĹŤtokuji) is a Buddhist temple in Setagaya Ward known primarily because of the hundreds of maneki-neko…

Kaminarimon

Kaminarimon (“Thunder Gate”) is the protector of Sensoji Temple. Fujin, the god of wind, and Raijin, the god of thunder, are enshrined on the east and west side of the gate, respectively. Pass under the gate and make your way up Nakamise. As you do, be sure to look up to see the wooden carving under the large red lantern.

Yushima Tenmangu Shrine

Yushima Tenmangu is an important shrine in Bunkyo Ward that houses the spirit of Sugawara no Michizane, a…

Nezu Shrine

One of the oldest shrines in Japan famous for the azalea festival in April