Jōraku-ji (常楽寺)

Guidepost

Joraku-ji (常楽寺), officially Kasuga-san Io-in Joraku-ji (春日山医王院常楽寺), is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon-shu Chisan-ha sect located in the Miyauchi area of Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.

At the entrance of the temple's sando (pathway) stands an old stone guidepost indicating the way to the temple's Yakushi-do (薬師堂). It bears an inscription stating that it was placed by Ishii Hachizaemon (石井八左衛門) in Bunsei 7 (1824).

Yakushi-do

According to temple records, it was founded during the Nara period (710–794) by the Buddhist priest Gyoki Bosatsu, acting on the wishes of Emperor Shomu (701–756).

The Inagesho Kenchu Mokuroku (稲毛荘検注目録), a record compiled in 1171, mentions a temple called Shingogan-ji (新御願寺) and a shrine called Kasuga Shingu (春日新宮). It is believed that Shingogan-ji corresponds to the present-day Joraku-ji, and Kasuga Shingu to the adjacent Kasuga Jinja (春日神社).

Historically, Joraku-ji served as the betto-ji — a Buddhist temple that managed a Shinto shrine until the Edo period (1603–1868) — for Kasuga Jinja.

The current main hall was built during the Genroku era (1668–1703). During repair work carried out in 1968, manga-style drawings were painted on the fusuma (sliding doors), earning the temple its affectionate nickname "Manga-dera" (マンガ寺), which literally means "Cartoon Temple."

The main hall of Joraku-ji

The temple houses several important historical artifacts, including statues of Buddha and Kannon (Avalokitesvara). The statues in the Hobutsu-den (Treasure Hall) were publicly displayed on October 12 and 13 for the first time in 24 years.

Hobutsu-den

Please note that photography inside the buildings is not permitted.