Kawasaki Daishi

Heiken-ji Temple Kawasaki Daishi is well-known throughout Japan as a temple to ward off evil. The official name is Heiken-ji Temple, Grand Head Temple of the Chisan Sect of Shingon Buddhism in Kinjoin, Mt. Kongo. It is one of the Three Mountains of Kanto of the Chisan sect and is visited by 2.6 million visitors or more every year on the first three days of the year. The principal object of worship is an image of the Buddhist priest Kobo Daishi (Kukai), said to ward off evil. Worship at this temple spread among the samurai and public after 1813, when the then shogun, Tokugawa Ienari, made a prayer there to ward off evil, and has led to its current popularity. Yakudoshi is a set of ages during which people are believed to be susceptible to misfortune in Japan. Counting by kazoedoshi (an old manner of reckoning one’s age; newborns being considered a year old), ages 25 and 42 are yakudoshi for men, 19 and 33 for women, and 60 for both men and women. At the main temple, prayers are made for warding off evil by burning small pieces of wood on the platform several times a day. This is a secret teaching of Esoteric Shingon Buddhism where worldly desires (the source of all suffering) is obliterated by the fire of Buddha's wisdom. One can simply pay a visit to the temple, but may also wish to obtain a Goma amulet. After visiting the temple, shop at Nakamise Shopping Street, located in front of the main gate of the temple. Stop by at the stores selling products associated with the temple, such as Daruma Senbei (Daruma rice crackers) and Kuzumochi (pudding-like arrowroot cakes). The temple is located 8 minutes by foot from Kawasakidaishi Station on the Keikyu Daishi Line.