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Sengaku-ji Temple Tokyo: Visiting the Temple of the 47 Ronin
- andrewsco3
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Sengaku-ji is a lesser‑known temple in Tokyo that often gets overlooked by first‑time visitors, who tend to focus on the more central and popular temples like Sensō‑ji, Meiji Jingū or Zojo‑ji.
In fact, we only ended up visiting because it was an easy walk from the Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo Hotel where we were staying, and on our first full day in Tokyo we wanted to stay fairly close to our base.
What we expected to be a simple, unspectacular stop at a nearby temple, turned into one of our favourite visits in Tokyo.
Read on to learn how Sengaku‑ji’s history and traditions left such a lasting impression on us.
Table of Contents
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Table of Contents:
How to get to Sengaku-ji Temple
Sengaku-ji temple is located in the Minato district, and it is pretty straightforward to get to.
If you are taking public transport, the easiest option is to take the Toei Asakusa Line to Sengakuji Station, which is just a few minutes walk from the temple. If you’re coming from Shinagawa, it’s about a 15–20 minute walk.
The temple is also walkable from several nearby stations, including Tamachi, Takanawadai, and Shirokane‑Takanawa, so you shouldn’t have any problems getting here wherever you are coming from.
Why Visit Sengaku-ji Temple in Tokyo?
Sengaku-ji Temple doesn’t often make it onto Tokyo “must do” lists, and it’s noticeably less popular with tourists - which, in our opinion only adds to its charm.
It’s a quiet, peaceful temple where I genuinely felt a sense of spirituality.
As impressive as many of Japan’s more famous temples are, they’re often much busier and can feel as though they exist mainly to cater to tourists these days.
Sengaku-ji, on the other hand, still felt rooted in everyday tradition, and it didn’t feel touristy at all.
The History of the 47 Ronin
Sengaku-ji is more than just a temple - it is deeply connected to one of the most important stories in Japanese history, and it is where the graves of the 47 Ronin are located.
The story of the 47 Ronin is taught in Japan from a young age and is closely tied to ideas of loyalty honor and duty.
In very simple terms, the 47 Ronin were samurai whose master was forced to take his own life (seppuku) after he attacked a court official inside Edo Castle. This left them without a leader which made them 'ronin'.
The 47 Ronin spent years patiently planning how to honor their dead master. When the time came, they carried out their revenge against the official responsible, and willingly accepted the punishment of death for their actions.
They were eventually laid to rest at Sengaku-ji, and their story is still remembered today as a powerful example of loyalty and devotion.
Paying Tribute to the 47 Ronin
As you enter Sengaku-ji, the main temple is straight ahead, but the graves of Lord Asano and the 47 Ronin are just up a short set of steps to the left.
Visitors can pay their respects by taking incense and placing it at the graves of the rōnin, and this became one of the most memorable moments of our visit. Jessica was captivated by the ritual; she moved slowly from grave to grave, placing at least one incense stick at each one. The incense sticks were 300 yen.
Watching her take such care and treat the space with genuine respect was exactly the kind of cultural experience we hoped the girls would have on this trip - something that doesn’t feel like history behind glass, but rather something lived, touched, and actively participated in.
You can also use QR codes around the temple to access a free audio guide, which adds extra context to the history of the 47 Ronin as you walk the grounds.
There is also a small museum on the temple grounds where you can learn more about the 47 Rōnin, and it displays wooden statues of the Rōnin, along with their armor and weaponry. Admission is 500 yen for adults, and 250 yen for children aged 10 and older.
Inside the museum, you’ll find wooden statues of the 47 Ronin, as well as artifacts like letters of confession signed by the conspirators, offering a tangible glimpse into their story.
A Traditional Goshuin Experience
Goshuin are temple and shrine stamps that you can collect across Japan, usually written in calligraphy and added to a special goshuin book called a goshuincho.
What made the experience even more meaningful at Sengaku-ji is that a traditional practice of copying a sutra is still followed. Before receiving the stamp, visitors are required to carefully trace the sutra with a pen, and only then is the goshuin given.
This was our girls’ first goshuin in their goshuincho, and receiving it in such a traditional way made the moment especially memorable. In fact, it was the only temple or shrine we visited anywhere in Japan where this practice was still followed.
If you’re curious about how goshuin work or want tips for collecting them with kids, I’ve put together a full guide you can read here.
You can also read more about the history of Sengaku-ji temple, the goshuin process, and more information about the 47 Ronin at the official temple website here.
Koyasan Tokyo Betsuin Temple
On the way back to our hotel, we visited another temple that is definitely worth a quick stop called Koyasan Tokyo Betsuin - it's just a 5 minute walk a away through quiet residential streets.
It's a small but beautiful Shingon Buddhist temple, and you can go inside the main temple and light a candle if you wish. We wrote a bit more about our time visiting both temples here.
Final Thoughts
Sengaku-ji reminded us that some of the most meaningful experiences in Tokyo aren’t found at the busiest or most photographed sites.
What began as a convenient walk from our hotel turned into a visit that stayed with us long after we left.
Between the powerful story of the 47 Ronin, the quiet act of paying respects at their graves, and the rare opportunity to receive a goshuin through such a traditional process, the temple offered something deeper than we had expected.
If you’re willing to step slightly off the usual Tokyo trail, Sengaku-ji is well worth the time. It’s a place that invites reflection, encourages participation, and offers a genuine connection to Japanese history and tradition.
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