Bunkyo, Tokyo

Koishikawa Temple Walk: Denzuin, Zenkōji and Konnyaku Enma

I would walk from Denzuin toward Kasuga Station, visiting small temple gates, slopes and the Konnyaku Enma shrine rather than treating the area as a series of open museums. These are still places of worship and family memorials.

A workable walking order

The easiest continuous route is Denzuin → Jigen-in Takuzōsu Inari → Koishikawa Zenkōji and its slope → Genkakuji → Kasuga. If I want to avoid the climb at the start, I would take a bus toward Denzuin-mae; the stop is about one or two minutes from Denzuin, while Korakuen or Kasuga Station is roughly ten minutes away on foot.

Denzuin and the Tokugawa family

At 3-14-6 Koishikawa, Denzuin’s large gate and main hall introduce a temple founded in 1415 and associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu’s mother Odai-no-kata and later members of the Tokugawa family, including Senhime. I would appreciate its scale and history while remembering that the cemetery is an active place for families visiting graves. Indoor rooms and grave sites are not all unrestricted tourist attractions.

Takuzōsu Inari and the wooded steps

Jigen-in at 3-17-12 Koishikawa was established in 1620 as a subtemple of Denzuin. Its walls, trees and steps toward the O-ana shrine offer a quieter change of scenery. On wet days or with mobility limitations, I would skip the steep path; the principal Eleven-faced Kannon is not an everyday public display.

Koishikawa Zenkōji

Koishikawa Zenkōji at 3-17-8 was established in 1602 around a devotional image associated with Odai-no-kata. The small gate and Zenkōji-zaka are worth seeing together. This is a different temple from the famous Zenkōji in Nagano, and entry to see its principal image is not guaranteed on an ordinary day.

Genkakuji and Konnyaku Enma

At 2-23-14 Koishikawa, Genkakuji has a modest entrance between street buildings and a shrine known for Konnyaku Enma. The local tradition describes Enma helping an elderly woman with an eye ailment; in gratitude she offered konnyaku. A historic bell also traveled to Saipan and later the United States before being returned in 1974. These are stories to read respectfully, not a reason to enter funerary facilities.

Respecting the route and choosing lunch

This route has slopes and stone steps, so it is not entirely step-free. I would visit in daylight, use open public paths and check temple notices. Finish near Kasuga for LaQua’s Bubba Gump Shrimp, or continue toward Hongo for FIRE HOUSE; choose one direction rather than trying both meals.

Facts checked: 2026-10-28