Oct 5, 2016 - 1 min read

The Temples of Roppongi Crossing

Small spots of tranquility in Tokyo's urban heart

By Peter Sidell

Community writer

A carving in the gate at Hotenji

The graveyard at Choyoji

A meditative Buddhist statue

A lantern at Choyoji

A miniature shrine at Asahi-jinja

A statue of a pilgrim at Hotenji

A marker stone at Hotenji

The gate to Asahi-jinja

In the shadow of modern Tokyo

Lanterns at Asahi-jinja

A message at Asahi-jinja

How to find the temples and shrine ("Tyoyoji" is a mistranscription of Choyoji)

Roppongi may be one of Tokyo's most relentlessly modern and urbanized districts, but even here it's possible to find traces of Japan's spiritual tradition. Within a couple of minutes of the iconic central crossing there are three Buddhist temples and one Shinto shrine, all of them small, of course, but all also peaceful spots where you can escape the big-city bustle for a few moments.

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Peter Sidell

By Peter Sidell

Community writer

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