Kita-in
Cost
Attractions > Tokyo > Shrines Temples > Ikebukuro
About | Access | Hotels & Lodging | Hours & Fees
Kawagoe Kita-in temple main hall by Twilight2640 (CC BY 3.0)
About
Kita-in Temple is a Buddhist temple in Kawagoe City (Kawagoe City is around 30 min. from Ikebukuro, one of Tokyo's major cities). The "Main Hall" of the temple was actually part of the original Edo Castle. "But... the original Edo Castle was in Tokyo" you say? Well, in 1638 a fire destroyed most of Kita-in (which was at that time in Edo/Tokyo) so in order to help preserve it, the third Tokugawa Shogun Iemitsu ordered several palace buildings to be moved from Edo Castle to Kawagoe. Structures that were moved here from the original Edo Castle include reception rooms, study, kitchen, toilet and bathroom that Iemitsu used, as well as the actual room where Iemitsu is believed to be born in. Also, the dressing room used by his wet-nurse "Kasuga no Tsubone" who became mistress of the inner palace of Edo Castle is here also.
Kita-in Temple was patronized by the first three Tokugawa shoguns Ieyasu, Hidetada, and Iemitsu when it was under the influence of a priest called Tenkai. During the time Tenkai was head priest, Kita-in replaced Nakain as the most influential of the three main temples around Tokyo.
Access
Closest Train Station: Kawagoe
1-20-1 Kosenbamachi
Kawagoe, Saitama 350-0036 Japan
From Hon-Kawagoe it is about a 15 to 20 min. walk.
From Kawagoe Station (JR and Tobu Tojo Line) its about a 30 min. walk.
from Kawagoe-shi Station (Tobu Tojo Line) its about a 15 min. walk.
Hotels & Lodging
Recommended
View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Kita-in.
Hours & Fees
Hours: The grounds of Shrines and Temples are generally open 27/7, 365 days a year but, many set their own hours. If hours are set, they are generally open from 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. in the morning and close around 4:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. in the evening.
Cost: The general grounds of Shrines and Temples are free but may charge a small fee (a couple/few hundred yen) for special gardens, exhibitions, artifact viewing, etc.
