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Zenkokuji Temple

　Under the order from Tokugawa Ieyasu (founder of the Tokugawa shogunate) based on the idea that the philosophy of Buddhism protects and stabilizes the nation, this temple was established in 1595 in Nihonbashi Bakurocho (current Chuo City). After a number of fires in 1670 and 1792, it was relocated to Kagurazaka.

　Zenkokuji Temple prospered as "Bishamon-sama in Kagurazaka" since the late Edo period (1603-1867). From the Meiji period (1868-1912) through the Taisho period (1912-1926), the prosperity of Kagurazaka, which was called "Yamanote Ginza," was actually due to the fact that the area developed as a temple town of Bishamonten. It is said that this temple was first place in Tokyo where night stalls began to appear during fairs of temples/shrines.

Shinjuku Yamanote Seven Gods of Good Fortune (Bishamonten）　

Bishamonten is a god from India and known in Buddhism as the best of the Four Devas, who protects the northern area. The statue of Bishamonten (Designated Cultural Property of Shinjuku City) of this temple offers blessings of business success, luck in competition, and warding off evil and bringing in good fortune. We translate as becoming known to the public, and, with Bishamon, it is said that he/she grants wish of many people.

◇Find fortune all year round in Shinjuku; Shinjuku Yamanote Seven Gods of Good Fortune (Bishamonten）