At a Glance
The temple's name comes from Hattori Hanzō's Buddhist name "Saien," which he took to pray for Matsudaira Nobuyasu's soul. He spent his final years as a priest here before dying in 1597.
Behind the main hall stands a large five-ring stone tower memorial built by Hattori Hanzō for Tokugawa Nobuyasu, marked with the Tokugawa three-leaf hollyhock crest and designated a Shinjuku Ward historic site.
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Experience
Visit the temple cemetery to see two significant historic sites: the large stone pagoda grave of Hattori Hanzo (engraved with his Buddhist name and dated 1606) located immediately left of the cemetery entrance, and the Tokugawa Nobuyasu Memorial Tower (a large Gorinto stone tower) behind the main hall on the right side, both designated historic sites by Shinjuku Ward with explanatory boards.
This is a Jodo-shu sect temple founded in 1594, where the practice centers on nembutsu (recitation of Amida Buddha's name) and emphasizes faith in Amida Buddha's compassion, so visitors should maintain a respectful and quiet demeanor appropriate to this Pure Land Buddhist tradition.
The temple is located in a quiet residential neighborhood near Sophia University Campus in Shinjuku's Wakaba area, just a few minutes' walk from the famous Sushi Sho restaurant, making it easy to combine with other nearby attractions.
Look for the stone door bearing the three-leaf hollyhock crest (the Tokugawa family symbol) at the Nobuyasu Memorial Tower, which commemorates Tokugawa Ieyasu's eldest son whom Hattori Hanzo served as guardian and for whose soul Hanzo prayed for the rest of his life after Nobuyasu's tragic death in 1579.
The temple houses Hattori Hanzo's legendary spear as a registered tangible cultural property, originally 4.2 meters long and weighing 7.5 kilograms, which was bestowed by Tokugawa Ieyasu at Hamamatsu Castle to honor Hanzo's proficiency with spears (earning him the nickname 'Spear Hanzo').
The current temple buildings were reconstructed in 1961 after being lost during World War II, and the site was relocated from its original location in Kojimachi (near modern-day Shimizudani Park in Chiyoda Ward) to its present location in Wakaba around 1634 due to the expansion of Edo Castle.
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Shinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture
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Timetable data: Public Transportation Open Data Center
Renting needs the operator's app and a Japanese phone number. docomo day passes are sold at convenience stores. Data sources
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You can reach this Jodo-shu temple in Shinjuku's Wakaba neighborhood on foot in a few minutes from the Sophia University campus area. Founded in 1594 and relocated here around 1634 when Edo Castle expanded, the current buildings date from a 1961 reconstruction after wartime destruction.
The two main draws are in the cemetery and behind the main hall. Just left of the cemetery entrance stands the stone pagoda grave of Hattori Hanzo, engraved with his Buddhist name and dated 1606. Behind the main hall, a large Gorinto tower commemorates Tokugawa Nobuyasu, Ieyasu's eldest son whom Hanzo served as guardian. Its stone door bears the Tokugawa hollyhock crest.
WPWilliam Perez checked in
One of my favorites. The burial spot of the most famous ninja. Yotsuya is super quiet and peaceful. Just be careful, getting here takes walking up a lot of hills
Sainen-ji
Shinjuku, Tokyo
ZBPro memberZoë BolandPro shared a goshuin
