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Sentaikoujin, the deity enshrined in the Kaiun-ji Temple in Shinagawa, Tokyo, is known by locals as the god of the kitchen. Since long ago, it is believed that if you pay a visit to this temple your basic needs of clothing, food and shelter will be met. In Spring (March 27, 28) and Fall (November 27, 28), twice every year, visitors flock to this festival.
One of the highlights of the festival is the row of fair stalls that line the grounds of the Kaiun-ji Temple. Visitors are able to get a good taste of what fairs were like for the locals of long ago. Come experience the good ol' days.
Stalls line the temple vicinity selling underwear, dried goods, custom blended peppers and many other useful and simple products that locals have adored for ages.
The famous snack of the Sentaikoujin Festival is the Kama Okoshi.
This snack is made of crushed grains hardened with a sweet syrup into the shape of tiny rice cookers—since Sentaikoujin is known for being the god of cooking pot, or "kama." The name "okoshi" also has a double meaning: one, a hardened rice or millet cake, two, the verb "okosu," meaning "to waken" or "bring about." This compound name comes from the old saying "kamado wo okosu" which means "to increase fortune/assets in the home."
This fire is known as Gomabi and is for purifying "Zushi" and prayer papers that decorate peoples homes. Zushi is a miniature holy temple/shrine with two opening doors that contains a figure of the deity Koujin-sama. It is said that one must not stop anywhere else along the way when heading home after purifying it over the fire or visiting the shrine. Zushi and prayer papers are said to keep the home safe and ward off fire related disasters and are to be kept safely in ones kitchen until the next festival.
Please refrain from having conversations in a loud voice when inside the temple grounds.
Please make your temple visit in silence.
Access to Shinagawa
[Nearest Station]
Aomono-yokocho Station on the Keikyu Main Line
Venue
Shinagawa Kaiun-ji Temple
Address: 3-5-21 Minami Shinagawa
2min walk from the Aomono-yokocho Station on the Keikyu Main Line
10min walk from the Shinagawa Seaside Station on the Rinkai Line
