Shinobazu-no-ike Bentendo Temple, Tokyo

Tucked away on its own little island in Shinobazu Pond, the Shinobazu-no-ike Bentendo Temple is where Tokyo pays its respects to Benzaiten鈥攖he multitasking goddess of music, dance, wisdom, words, wealth, and, ultimately, water.

She鈥檚 the only female among Japan鈥檚 Seven Lucky Gods, and she clearly knew how to pick real estate鈥攈er temples are almost always built near water. No surprise, then, that this one floats in the middle of a pond, giving it that extra air of mystique (and, let鈥檚 be honest, making it look fantastic in photos).

Originally part of Kanei-ji Temple, this sanctuary survived the Battle of Ueno in 1868, while much of its grander complex didn鈥檛. That alone makes it something of a historical miracle. And let鈥檚 give credit where it鈥檚 due鈥攂ack in 1625, a Buddhist monk named Tenkai had the vision to build this temple, inspired by Kyoto鈥檚 legendary Enryakuji. He even planted lotus flowers around the pond鈥攂ecause nothing illustrates 鈥渄ivine elegance鈥� quite like a lake full of floating blooms. They鈥檙e still here today, continuing his legacy with every serene ripple.

Near the temple, you鈥檒l spot stone statues paying tribute to various deities. One of the highlights is the Biwa, a lute-shaped instrument symbolizing Benzaiten鈥檚 musical prowess. And if you see a god with a human head and a snake鈥檚 body鈥攄on鈥檛 be alarmed. That鈥檚 Ugaijin, the deity of harvests and fertility, looking as mythical as ever.

Ueno Park is packed with sights, so plan your time wisely鈥攎aybe even spread your visit over a couple of days. But if you鈥檙e short on time? Do yourself a favor and make a beeline for the Shinobazu-no-ike Bentendo Temple. Pay your respects to Benzaiten, soak in the tranquil surroundings, and if you listen closely, maybe you鈥檒l even hear the whisper of a lute in the wind.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Tokyo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Shinobazu-no-ike Bentendo Temple
Sight Location: Tokyo, Japan (See walking tours in Tokyo)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Ueno Park Walking Tour

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