The second oldest temple in Tokyo: Jindai-ji
Although the temple is the second oldest, Jindai-ji has two great advantages over the Senso-ji: the nature and less crowd. Indeed, the neighborhood is completely isolated from the rest of the city, you have to take a bus from Chofu or Tsutsujigaoka station of Keio line, and it takes about 10 minutes to get there. But what might seem like a constraint for some is actually the strength of the place since you will feel completely immersed in the Edo era.
Indeed, everything is present for a real journey in time. First, access to the temple is through the Sanmon Gate, the main street of the village, where we find the famous soba restaurants in a style specific to the neighborhood. During the walk, you can also cross stalls of traditional pottery, in which if you want you can even paint yours, ice cream stalls and street food, there is even an old water mill .
Then, the temple complex actually includes three large buildings and several small annex buildings, making it a real walk through the history of Japan since we see different styles of traditional architecture and sculpture. After having walked through the different places of worship, we advise you to stop for a moment to observe one of the curiosities of the neighborhoods: the cemetery of the animals of Jindai. Indeed, the Japanese here can leave their companions to rest by building a plate with their effigy before being able to visit them regularly.
Once you arrive at the top of the temple complex, if you still have a little time, you will find the big Jindai Botanical Garden, known for its variety of flowers. Plum trees, wisteria and cherry trees, it is above all for roses that the garden is known as it is home to the largest rose garden in Tokyo, the flowering period being from spring to early fall. Finally, to end a beautiful relaxing afternoon, there is near the park an onsen (hot spring) called "Yumori no Sato" with baths outdoors and indoors, including one of them being wooden barrel individually called "Goemon Buro" after Ishikawa Goemon, who was a famous thief sometimes nicknamed the Japanese Robin Hood and who was boiled alive (don't worry, you won't be boiled). The place also has a restaurant, where you can dine out or just have a beer before returning, well relaxed with the nature and the sound of birds singing.
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