The Edo Roku Jizo in Honsenji Temple
The Edo Roku Jizo at Honsenji Temple is one of a series of six bronze Jizō statues erected across the city of Edo during the early 18th century. These statues were created to protect travelers and to offer spiritual guidance for the dead. According to a summary inscription found inside the first statue at Taisōji in Shinjuku, the statues were the result of a vow made by a man named Jizōbō Shōgen. After being cured of an incurable illness through prayer, he sought to replicate the six Jizōs of Kyoto in Edo. Construction began in 1706 with donations collected from the public.
The statue at Honsenji in Shinagawa—officially designated as statue number two—was built in 1707 (Hōei 5)1. It was cast by the skilled Edo-period metalworker Ōta Suruga-no-kami Fujiwara Masayoshi of Kanda Nabemachi. Standing 271 cm tall and seated in the lotus position, the figure was originally finished with red lacquer and gold leaf rather than the gilding found on the other statues. Traces of this finish have been confirmed by historical records.
This Jizo Bosatsu statue does not wear a hat, which is unique among the existing Edo Roku Jizo statues. However, in the illustrations of the Edo Meisho Zue (江戸名所図会), the statue at Honsen-ji is depicted wearing a hat. It is a Tangible Cultural Property designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan.
The other Edo Roku Jizo
Five of the original six statues survive today. The sixth, once located at Eitai-ji in Fukagawa, was destroyed during the Meiji-era anti-Buddhist movement. The remaining statues continue to form a spiritual ring around what was once the bustling Tokugawa capital.
🧘O-Jizo-sama
Jizō is one of the most loved deities in Japan. People often call him O-Jizō-san or O-Jizō-sama. He is a kind figure who protects both the living and the dead. In Buddhism, Jizō is a Bodhisattva. That means he has chosen to help others before reaching enlightenment himself.
Jizō statues (地蔵) show him as a monk with a gentle face. He guards children, travelers, and people in hard times. His name means “earth bearer.” That is why his statues are made of stone. Long ago, before Buddhism came to Japan, people already believed stone had power. It was thought to keep people safe and healthy.
Jizō also watches over the spirits of children who have died. In old stories, these spirits cannot cross the river to the next world. Instead, they spend their days piling small stones. They do this to earn good karma for their parents. But each night, cruel spirits or monsters knock the stones down. So the children must start again.
To help them, travelers often stack stones near Jizō statues. This small act is full of kindness. It is a way to share the load and bring peace to these young souls.
- A panel next to the Jizo states:
Tokyo Metropolitan Designated Tangible Cultural Property (Sculpture)
Bronze Jizo Bosatsu Statue (One of the Edo Rokujizo)
Location: Shinagawa Ward, Minami-Shinagawa 3-51-7
Designation: March, Taisho 10
The origin of the Edo Rokujizo, according to the publication “Edo Rokujizo Establishment Brief Origin” found inside one of the statues at Daisoji Temple, is that Jizo-bo Shogen of Edo Fukagawa fell ill with an incurable disease. He prayed to Jizo Bosatsu for recovery from his illness along with his parents and was successfully cured. Following the example of the Rokujizo in Kyoto, he made a vow to construct in the third year of Hoei (1706), collected donations from people, and built one Jizo Bosatsu statue each in six places in Edo city. The full body and lotus pedestal of each statue are inscribed with the names of the promoters, the year of construction, etc., and it is known that they were cast by Ota Suruga no Kami Fujiwara Masayoshi, a metal caster in Kanda Nabecho. Among the Rokujizo, the Jizo Bosatsu of Eidoji Temple in Fukagawa (the sixth) was demolished during the abolition of Buddhism, and five statues remain. Among the Rokujizo, the Jizo of Kaishozan Honsenji Temple is the oldest, and was constructed in the fifth year of Hoei (1707). The statue height is the largest among the existing ones at 275 cm, and it used to be gilded. As a large-scale* cast statue from the middle of the Edo period, and as there are few remaining examples, it has been designated as a cultural property.
March, Heisei 23rd year,
Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education ↩︎
🙏 Temple Notes
- Sect: Shingon Buddhism
- Principal Deity: Suigetsu Kannon (Water-Moon Avalokiteśvara)
- Founded: Early 9th century (Daidō era, 806–810)
- Major Feature: Edo Roku Jizo statue (cast in 1710)
- Cultural Role: Guardian temple on the old Tōkaidō route
🧭 Visitor Information
Address: 2-6-4 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0001
Access: 6-minute walk from Kita-Shinagawa Station
Best season: August for the Jizō Festival, Spring for cherry blossoms
Admission: Free
Official Info: Honsenji Temple Official Site
Where is it?
| what3words | ///nitrate.tens.kick |
| latitude longitude | 35.6097651 139.7409441 |
| Nearest station(s) | Aomono-yokochō (Keikyū Line) |
| Nearest public conveniences | Aomono-yokochō station |
Show me a sign.
Triple sign. As new.
Withervee says…
This is a heavyweight of Buddhist Edo history — literally and spiritually. Even if you’re not doing the full circuit of the Edo Six Jizo, this one is worth a stop for its atmosphere, and its role in watching over travelers since the Tokugawa days. Anyway, now you have seen one – mission unlocked…
Where are the Edo Roku Jizo?
The six giant Jizō statues of Edo were built in the early 1700s to protect travelers heading in and out of the city. Each one stood along a major road that led from Edo into the provinces. Today, five of them still exist. One, sadly, was lost in the Meiji era.
Here’s where you can still find them:
| No. | Temple | Location | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | Taisōji (太宗寺) | Shinjuku | 1706 (Hōei 3) | First statue; holds the original inscription |
| 2️⃣ | Honsenji (本然寺 / 品川寺) | Shinagawa | 1708 (Hōei 5) | Second statue; red lacquer and gold leaf |
| 3️⃣ | Eifukuji (永福寺) | Suginami | 1709 (Hōei 6) | Near the Kōshū Kaidō road |
| 4️⃣ | Shingakuji (真性寺) | Toshima (Ikebukuro) | 1710 (Hōei 7) | Along the Nakasendō highway |
| 5️⃣ | Reiganji (霊巌寺) | Kōtō (Fukagawa) | 1712 (Shōtoku 2) | Guarded the Sotobō Kaidō route |
| ❌ | Eitaiji (永代寺) | Lost (Fukagawa) | c. 1712 | Destroyed during anti-Buddhist reforms |
Each statue was placed at a key exit from Edo, like Tōkaidō or Nakasendō. Together, they formed a kind of spiritual safety net around the city. The idea came from the Six Jizō of Kyoto, and people all over Edo donated to make it happen. These statues were more than art—they were a public project and a shared prayer.
They were big too—about 2.7 meters tall, cast in bronze, and etched with names and prayers. Even now, they stand strong, reminding us of a time when stone and metal watched over the living and the lost.
Site Character
- Lifestyle 生活 (Seikatsu): ❌
- Historical Significance 歴史 (Rekishi): ✔️
- Atmosphere/Natural Features 風土 (Fūdo): ✔️
Who in their right mind would vote for this?
- Local Shingon Buddhists
- Spiritual pilgrims
- History enthusiasts
- Festival-goers
- Bronze statue fans
