Kannonji Temple, Tokyo

Kannonji Temple is tucked away in the streets of Tokyo. The Shingon Buddhist temple was established in 1648. Along with the temple, tourists will find a graveyard, a small Buddha statue and a memorial to the 47 ronin.

Visitors may be aware of the Kannonji Temple due to the story of the ronin. Also known as the Ako incident, the 47 ronin story has been retold in terms of plays, opera, art, literature and film. The ronin met at the Kannonji Temple to develop the plot to avenge the death of their master.

The temple is surrounded by buildings and walls. One of these walls is the tsuji-bei wall, which was originally from the Edo period. This protected cultural property is one of the few remaining walls of the city that was once divided by similar structures. The often-photographed wall is unique in style due to the stacking of mud and tiles to create a strong, time-tested form.