⛩️ Huguo Temple

The Shingon Sect Hōsan School's Kokkoku-ji Temple was established in the first year of the Tenwa era (1681) by Katsura Shōin, the mother of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the fifth shogun of the Edo shogunate, as a temple for prayer. It is also the thirteenth of the thirty-three Kannon sacred sites in Edo. The main hall's Kannon Hall was built in the tenth year of the Genroku era (1681) and houses a statue of the Kannon with the wish-fulfilling wheel. It is one of the few remaining buildings from the Genroku period in Tokyo. The structure features intricate carvings and reflects the exquisite craftsmanship of the time, making it hard to believe that it was completed in just about six months. Alongside the main hall, the Gekkō-dō, which has also been designated as an Important Cultural Property, was relocated from the guest hall of Nikkō-in at Mii-dera in Ōtsu City, Shiga Prefecture, during the early Shōwa period. It is a precious building that retains the architectural style of the Momoyama period. Additionally, there are several cultural properties from the Genroku period, including paintings and utensils. Behind the main hall lies a vast cemetery where many great figures and notable individuals, such as Ōkuma Shigenobu, Yamagata Aritomo, and Sanjō Sanetomi, rest.

The temple was built at the request of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's mother, Keishoin. It houses the main hall and Gekkoden, which are designated as Important Cultural Properties, along with many other cultural treasures. It is also famous for being the burial site of several notable figures, including Ōkuma Shigenobu and Yamagata Aritomo.