Overview
Jorin-ji is a temple of the Soto Zen school in Minato Ward, Tokyo. Said to have been founded in 1599 (Keicho 4), it drew deep devotion during the Edo period as the Edo family temple of two daimyo houses: the Tozawa of the Shinjo domain in Dewa and the Mizuno of the Yuki domain. Standing in central Minato, it is a Zen temple that quietly carries on a lineage tied to feudal lords.
Highlights
- ●An old Soto Zen temple said to date from 1599 (Keicho 4)
- ●Its lineage as the Edo family temple of the Tozawa and Mizuno daimyo houses
- ●The serene grounds of a Zen temple set in the sloping town of Minato
- ●A central location reachable on foot from Toei and Tokyo Metro lines
History
According to temple tradition, it was founded in 1599. Daimyo houses that maintained residences in Edo also designated family temples there to memorialize their ancestors, and Jorin-ji served that role for the Tozawa of Shinjo and the Mizuno of Yuki. As a Soto Zen temple, it walked its path as a temple of standing under the patronage of these lordly houses. For details of the graves and treasures, checking official information is recommended.
Access
The temple lies at roughly 35.644 degrees north, 139.739 degrees east, in Minato Ward, Tokyo. It sits in the slope-filled area toward Mita, Shirokane, and Azabu, within walking distance of Toei and Tokyo Metro subway stations. As the surroundings form a calm district dotted with temples, checking the gate's location on a map app while approaching will help you avoid getting lost.
Best season
The stillness of a Zen temple can be savored all year, but spring, when the greenery of the grounds softly takes color, and the clear-aired mornings of autumn into winter are especially atmospheric. To quietly sense its lineage as a daimyo family temple, a weekday morning with few visitors is recommended.
Map
35.6443, 139.7394 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Walk up the slopes from a nearby Minato station to the gate of Jorin-ji
- 2Worship at the main hall and settle into the stillness of a Soto Zen temple
- 3Wander the grounds while reflecting on its role as a daimyo family temple in Edo
- 4After worship, extend your walk to the temples and slopes of Mita, Shirokane, and Azabu
Did you know?
💡 Several temples across Japan bear the name Jorin-ji, but this one, founded in 1599 as a Soto Zen temple in Minato Ward, is distinguished by having been the Edo family temple of two daimyo houses, the Tozawa of Shinjo and the Mizuno of Yuki. To avoid confusing it with other temples of the same name, it helps to remember the clues Minato Ward and Soto Zen.
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