Monzen-Nakacho Walking Guide — 6 Temple-Town Spots in Fukagawa

Around Monzen-Nakacho Station there are 6 walking spots, ranging from an enma hall to a Benten shrine hall. All of them sit within the Fukagawa "temple town," an area where many temples and shrines were gathered during the Edo period, and all are within walking distance of the station. None of the 6 spots listed here has a stated admission cost, and stepping just off the busy street is enough to shift into quiet time.

For the route, start with [Hōjōin Temple](/en/spot/fd5fd17c-aeed-41e2-bd77-8c39fb8ce24e), which has the most to see, then trace the temple town through [Shingyoji Temple](/en/spot/db1908af-1380-48ef-92de-e1a0afd9e973) → [Zōrinji Temple](/en/spot/c2110db1-fa59-4fa6-bc62-d9cc8ff075ab) → [Yogakuji Temple](/en/spot/fa5c96d7-0954-4648-a8cc-20d1c06a1258) → [Genshinji Temple](/en/spot/881dac14-a475-4fc2-96c4-5366944724e9), and finish at [Fuyuki Bentendo](/en/spot/ba814c06-c88f-45e5-9930-321ba4e16297) for a last look at the district's history.

Hōjōin Temple

A Shingon-sect temple within walking distance of Monzen-Nakacho Station, affectionately known as "Fukagawa Enma-do." A large statue of Enma, the king of hell, is enshrined in the hall, and offering a coin triggers a recorded sermon — one of the highlights here. It is the most interactive of the 6 spots and makes a natural starting point for a Fukagawa temple-town walk.

Shingyoji Temple

A Jodo-sect temple close to Monzen-Nakacho Station. Its grounds hold a hexagonal hall and a beautifully kept garden, so you can take in architecture and greenery together. Visiting it alongside Fukagawa Fudodo or Tomioka Hachimangu lets you settle into the atmosphere of Monzen-Nakacho's historic temples and shrines.

Zōrinji Temple

A Soto-sect temple within walking distance of Monzen-Nakacho Station. It sits in the Fukagawa temple town with many other temples lined up around it, so walking this stretch makes the density of the district clear. The quiet you find just a few steps off Monzen-Nakacho's lively street makes a good rest partway through the walk.

Yogakuji Temple

A Rinzai-sect temple in the Fukagawa area, reachable on foot from Monzen-Nakacho Station. It stands as if blending into the streetscape of Monzen-Nakacho, where temples cluster densely, and its understated presence is itself typical of a temple town. Visit it while strolling the neighborhood alongside Tomioka Hachimangu or Fukagawa Fudodo.

Genshinji Temple

A temple within walking distance of Monzen-Nakacho Station. Fukagawa is a district where many temples and shrines were gathered during the Edo period, and Genshinji stands quietly in a corner of that historic temple town. The calm just off the bustle of Monzen-Nakacho suits anyone who wants an unhurried second half to their walk.

Fuyuki Bentendo

A hall enshrining Benzaiten, near Monzen-Nakacho Station. It traces back to the former residence of the Fuyuki family, timber merchants in Edo-period Fukagawa, and the Benten deity once enshrined within that residence remains on this site today. As the finish to a route of temples, it offers the district's history from a different angle — that of a merchant household.

Walking tip: All 6 spots list Monzen-Nakacho as their nearest station, yet their sects vary — Rinzai, Jodo, Soto and Shingon. Comparing the layout of the grounds and the feel of each hall as you walk reveals how differently one "temple" can present itself from the next.