I am currently visiting Shinto shrines across Nagoya to document and introduce Japan’s stone craftsmanship to the world. During one of these visits, I discovered a small Jizo shrine beside Toeicho Hachiman Shrine in Mizuhoku, Nagoya.
The small stone Jizo statues were placed next to Toeiji Temple, a Buddhist temple neighboring the shrine. Buddhist temples in Japan often operate under a traditional danka (parishioner) system and usually have a cemetery on the grounds. While anyone may visit, it can feel a little solemn to enter the main precinct, so this time, I photographed only the Jizo statues and the small roadside sanctuary outside the gate.
Two Faiths Standing Side by Side
In the quiet residential area of Toeicho, Mizuhoku Ward, the Shinto Hachiman Shrine and the Buddhist Toeiji Temple stand only a few steps apart. Though neighbors, their forms of worship differ completely.
The shrine, dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Ojin (Hachiman), welcomes visitors with a torii gate, a pair of guardian komainu, and stone lanterns. Before praying, worshippers cleanse their hands at the temizuya water basin.
Next door, Toeiji Temple represents the Buddhist tradition. Even from the street, you can see rows of Jizo and Kannon statues, and stone lanterns that softly illuminate the grounds. There are no torii or komainu here, but instead, a cemetery and Jizo Bosatsu stand quietly, continuing to serve as a place of prayer for the local community.
Overview of Toeiji Temple
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Toeiji Temple (東栄寺 / Toeiji) |
| Location | 5-20 Toeicho, Mizuho Ward, Nagoya City |
| Sect | Shingon Buddhism (Buzan School) |
| Main Deity | Eleven-faced Kannon Bosatsu (trad.) |
| History | The founding year is unknown. Based on traces of faith along the Shiotsuke Kaido route, the temple is believed to have a history of about 300 years. |
| Note | Beside Toeicho Hachiman Shrine, a small roadside sanctuary enshrines Jizo statues belonging to Toeiji. (Exact number and year of installation unknown.) |
The Shiotsuke Kaido and Faith Along the Road
The area surrounding Toeiji once lay along the Shiotsuke Kaido—an old trade route over 300 years old. In those days, salt production flourished in nearby villages, and traders carried the salt on horseback to surrounding towns.
This road was more than a means of transport; it was a path of devotion. Travelers and merchants prayed for the safety of their horses and journeys, and stone Jizo or Kannon statues were erected at village entrances and crossroads. The line of Jizo statues beside Toeiji likely reflects this same spirit of faith— a silent reminder of how travel, trade, and prayer once intertwined.
The Story of the Jizo Statues
The Jizo statues outside the temple have gentle, weathered faces shaped by time. Despite years of wind and rain, they radiate warmth and serenity.
In Buddhism, Jizo Bosatsu (Kṣitigarbha) is believed to travel through the Six Realms—hell, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, asuras, and heavenly beings— to guide all suffering souls. In Japan, Jizo is also cherished as the protector of children and travelers, often enshrined at roadsides and village entrances.
The Jizo group near Toeiji may have been built to console the spirits of children or pray for safe journeys along the Shiotsuke Kaido. Some statues wear small red bibs, offerings of love and remembrance still renewed by local hands.
These figures remind us that Japan’s stone culture lives hand in hand with prayer. Stone is not just a material—it is a vessel of memory, quietly preserving human devotion through the centuries.
Comparison of Main Features: Shrine and Temple
| Feature | Shinto Shrine | Buddhist Temple |
|---|---|---|
| Torii Gate | ○ — Marks the boundary between the sacred and the ordinary world. | ✕ — Replaced by a Sanmon gate. |
| Komainu (Guardian Dogs) | ○ — Placed before the main hall to ward off evil. | ✕ — Replaced by Nio or guardian deities at temple gates. |
| Stone Lanterns | ○ — Illuminate shrine paths and altars. | ○ — Used as symbols of prayer and memorial light. |
| Water Basin | ○ — For ritual purification before prayer. | △ — Some Zen temples have Chozubachi, but not essential. |
| Jizo or Buddhist Statues | ✕ — Not part of Shinto worship. | ○ — Central icons such as Jizo or Kannon Bosatsu. |
| Cemetery / Columbarium | ✕ — Shrines do not perform funerary rites or host graves. | ○ — Cemeteries and columbaria are common within temple grounds. |
Harmony in Faith
In Shinto shrines, people pray to the kami—the spirits of nature and ancestors. In Buddhist temples, they meditate on life and death, offering prayers for the departed. Yet in Japan, these two traditions have never opposed each other; they have long coexisted in peace.
Seeing Toeicho Hachiman Shrine and Toeiji Temple side by side reveals this quiet coexistence— a harmony that has shaped Japan’s spiritual landscape for centuries.
Faith in Numbers
Across Japan, there are about 80,000 Shinto shrines and around 77,000 Buddhist temples. This balance itself symbolizes Japan’s remarkable religious tolerance— a culture where shrines and temples can stand together, each preserving its own form of prayer, yet sharing the same land and spirit.
In this small corner of Nagoya, the stones, the gods, and the people’s prayers continue to breathe quietly together.
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