Musashi Kokubunji Temple

Musashi Kokubunji is a temple of the Shingon sect's Toyoyama school, located in Kokubunji City. Like other Kokubunji temples found throughout Japan, it was established around the Tenpyo-Hoji era (757-765) under Emperor Shomu's order. Back in its heyday, it is believed that the temple boasted a seven-story pagoda that was over 60 meters tall, making it one of the largest Kokubunji in the country. Although it was destroyed by war fires during the Kamakura period, its main hall, Yakushi Hall, and Nio-mon gate were subsequently rebuilt at the current location.

The temple's principal deity, a wooden statue of Yakushi Nyorai (Healing Buddha), hails from the Heian period. It is designated as a national important cultural property and is enshrined in the Yakushi Hall. This statue is open to the public only during the annual ritual on October 10th. Furthermore, within the temple grounds, there's a "Manyo Garden" where a former chief priest independently collected around 160 types of plants mentioned in the "Manyoshu", Japan's oldest anthology of poems, delighting the eyes of the visitors.

The temple's premises naturally attract cats from the neighborhood, making it a popular spot rumored for its feline guardians. The temple office sells cute cat-shaped charms in pink, light blue, and calico patterns, making them irresistible for cat enthusiasts.