Koan-ji Temple

The story of Koan-ji begins when Takauji Ashikaga, a 14th-century shogun, restored an older temple that once stood here.
Takauji Ashikaga traveled across Japan, hoping to bring peace to his fellow men and country by building "Ankokuji", or "peace temples" everywhere he went. However, Koan-ji is the Ankokuji temple that he built specifically for the old-world Musashi Province that once stood here over present day Tokyo, Saitama and parts of Kanagawa Prefectures.

At its front steps sits the grand, two-story front gate that was built in 1872. Its flanked by two, stern-faced Nio guardians on either side.

Just steps from the cemetery and you'll find Hidesato Inari Shrine, which enshrines the 10th century shogun Hidesato Fujiwara, as well as remains of the old Benkei Suzuri Well". Benkei was a figure famed for his an unrivaled physical strength that, as legend would have it, used these well waters to create ink for copying sutras.