Taketa – Rejuvenating City

Aizen-do 愛染堂

Aizen-do 愛染堂 愛染堂
愛染堂

This temple, marked with its date 1635, is the oldest remaining wooden building by a local architect. It was originally constructed in the Taishoin temple complex on the Hachiman mountain. It was dedicated to Aizen myo-ou, Ragaraja, the god of love, responsible for good luck and the avoidance of disaster. Like many other temples and shrines, the Taishoin complex was closed after the Meiji Restoration but Aizen-do was transported to the Ganseiji temple complex on Atago mountain.

The temple is constructed without internal columns. Inside, there are colourful drawings of birds and musicians. Aizen-myo-ou is considered as a match-maker, so the temple is frequented by young people and the lovelorn. You can see inside the temple twice a year, in spring and in autumn, during the Chikuraku festival.

Teramachi, Oaza Taketa, Taketa-City