Saimyoji 西明寺

Otherworldly temple with a laughing God of Hell

Saimyoji is a Shingon Buddhist temple with an image of the Eleven-Faced Kannon and one of the 33 Bando pilgrimage sites. It's remarkable for its cultural properties - structures including the thatch-roofed gate erected in 1492, a bell tower with an exceptional copper roof, and the main hall interior which dates from the Muromachi era. A favorite amongst the many images at this temple is the laughing Enma, God of Hell figure. The priest says Enma spends time in hell so you don't have to. Another special feature of the temple is the priest himself. His first career was as a medical researcher. The temple has an attached medical clinic and is associated with care homes in Mashiko. On the south side of the temple is a rest house that serves meals and has ample toilet facilities for parents with children and patients with ostomates. There's a lot of care for people's health and happiness here.