Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin

The Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin Hongyo-in is a temple founded at the end of the Edo period in 1853 by Chief Priest Ishikawa Sho'on. Its origin lies in the story that Ishikawa became blind in both eyes; he began fasting at the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, where he recovered his sight in both eyes. He was so grateful and impressed that he considered the great power as a gift from Acala, so he went on a tour around the country to spread the spirit of Acala. While the people who admired and gathered around Ishikawa increased in many places, he reestablished an unused temple in Kawagoe with the help of powerful sponsors of the area, and the temple now is the current Kawagoe Betsuin temple. You can request for a prayer called o-goma. O-goma is a praying ritual where you burn firewood called goma-ki in front of the principle statue of Acala, which is said to burn out the worldly desires born from hesitations in one's mind. At the flea market held on the premises on the 18th of each month, about 100 stores of antiques and old folk arts bustle about the place. It is held from early morning, so you should go ahead of time since the lucky finds will be sold soon. It is a 15-minute walk from the Honkawagoe Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line.