The official name of Shibamata Taishakuten is “Kyoeizan Daikyo-ji.” It is a temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, and as it was built in 1629 it has quite the long history. The temple features ita-honzon carvings of Taishakuten, said to have been carved by a high priest of the Nichiren sect. Taishakuten is one of the guardian deities of Buddhism.
Within the temple grounds are a “Carvings Gallery,” which features carvings related to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, as well as “Suikei-en Garden,” a stunning Japanese garden. The area was used as the setting for the film “The Otoko wa tsurai yo (It’s Tough Being a Man),” and it also made appearances in the manga series “Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo.”
The road approaching the temple from Shibamata Station is an old-timey shopping street, and it’s packed with shoppers every day.