Nagoya, Japan Jizodo Visit Report 2026 Nakamura No.1 Nishi-Yanagi Jizodo
A Record of Nishi-Yanagi Traffic Safety Jizo Hall — A Boat-Shaped Jizo in Meieki 4-chome, Nagoya
On July 14, 2026, I walked around shrines and small sacred places near Nagoya Station. After visiting Tenno Shrine in Meieki 5-chome, I found this small Jizo hall while walking toward Nagoya Station. It stands near Meieki 4-chome 19 in Nakamura Ward, Nagoya.
This small hall is introduced as Nishi-Yanagi Traffic Safety Jizo Hall. The current address is in Meieki 4-chome, but the name “Nishi-Yanagi” preserves the memory of an older local place name.
Inside the hall, behind a protective lattice door, I saw a funagata Jizo, a boat-shaped Jizo stone statue. The Jizo image is carved into a stone with a boat-shaped outline, and flowers were placed inside the hall.
A list of donors was also posted beside the hall. Because it includes personal names, I do not publish those names in this article.
Photo Record of Nishi-Yanagi Traffic Safety Jizo Hall
001 Jizo hall standing at a street corner in Meieki 4-chome
This is Nishi-Yanagi Traffic Safety Jizo Hall at a street corner in Meieki 4-chome. Buildings, shops, utility poles, and road signs surround the site, showing that this is a small Jizo hall preserved in the urban area near Nagoya Station.
002 Front view of the Jizo hall
This is the hall seen from the front. The small structure is protected by a lattice door, and the boat-shaped Jizo and flowers can be seen inside. Although it stands beside a road, the hall appears to be carefully maintained.
003 Boat-shaped Jizo seen through the lattice door
The funagata Jizo can be seen through the lattice door. The Jizo figure is carved into a boat-shaped stone, and flowers are placed inside the hall.
004 Flowers and the boat-shaped Jizo
This is another view inside the hall. The boat-shaped Jizo is enshrined behind the lattice door, with flowers placed nearby. It gives the impression of a small place of prayer still cared for in the neighborhood.
About Nishi-Yanagi Traffic Safety Jizo Hall
| Name | Nishi-Yanagi Traffic Safety Jizo Hall |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Meieki 4-chome 19, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Current place name | Meieki 4-chome |
| Name preserved in the hall | Nishi-Yanagi. This is not the current official town name, but appears to preserve an older local place name. |
| Character of the site | A small Jizo hall for traffic safety prayers |
| Main image | A funagata Jizo, or boat-shaped Jizo stone statue, carved into a boat-shaped stone backing. |
| Founded | Unknown |
| Observed on site | Small hall, lattice door, boat-shaped Jizo, flowers, street-corner location, and a posted donor list |
| Donor names | A donor list was visible on site, but personal names are not published in this article. |
| Recording policy | This article does not claim a founding date. It records the hall as a small traffic-safety Jizo hall in Meieki 4-chome, connected with the former Nishi-Yanagi place name and local stone worship. |
The Former Place Name Nishi-Yanagi
Nishi-Yanagi was an older town name in the area east of Nagoya Station toward Yanagibashi. Reference sources explain that willow trees once lined the Egawa-suji area, and that the east side came to be called Higashi-Yanagi while the west side was called Nishi-Yanagi.
Later, as the area around Nagoya Station was reorganized, parts of the former Nishi-Yanagi area were incorporated into Meieki 4-chome and nearby districts. The name no longer remains as an official town name, but it survives here in the name of this Jizo hall.
Jizo Faith and Traffic Safety
Jizo statues have long been placed along roads, at crossroads, and at the edges of towns throughout Japan. They are connected with prayers for children, travelers, neighborhood protection, and safe passage.
Because this hall stands at a street corner, it is natural to understand it as a place where people prayed for the safety of those passing through the area. The boat-shaped Jizo inside the hall is protected by a lattice door, with flowers placed nearby.
Historical Timeline
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| Early modern to modern period | This area was connected with Hiroi Village, Yanagibashi, and the Egawa-suji area. Reference sources explain that willow trees once lined the area, and that the east side was called Higashi-Yanagi while the west side was called Nishi-Yanagi. |
| 1878 | Nishi-Yanagi-cho is said to have been established from part of Hiroi Village in Aichi District as Nishi-Yanagi-cho of Nagoya Ward. |
| 1889 | With the establishment of Nagoya City, the area became Nishi-Yanagi-cho, Nagoya City. |
| 1908 | With the establishment of Nishi Ward, it became Nishi-Yanagi-cho, Nishi Ward. |
| 1944 | With the establishment of Nakamura Ward, it became Nishi-Yanagi-cho, Nakamura Ward. |
| 1977 | Meieki 4-chome was established, including part of the former Nishi-Yanagi-cho area. |
| 1981 | Nishi-Yanagi-cho is said to have been incorporated into Meieki-minami 1-chome and Meieki 4-chome, and the town name was discontinued. |
| Present | The current place name is Meieki 4-chome, but the name Nishi-Yanagi remains in Nishi-Yanagi Traffic Safety Jizo Hall. |
A Small Stone Prayer Remaining in Meieki 4-chome
Nishi-Yanagi Traffic Safety Jizo Hall stands at a street corner in Meieki 4-chome, close to Nagoya Station. The founding date of the hall could not be confirmed, but its name and location make it meaningful as a small site connected with the former Nishi-Yanagi area.
Finding this Jizo hall after visiting Tenno Shrine on July 14, 2026 showed me that the area around Nagoya Station still preserves not only small shrines, but also quiet Jizo faith connected with traffic safety.
Japanstones.shop connects Japanese stone craftsmanship with gardens, landscapes, and cultural spaces around the world. This small boat-shaped Jizo in the urban space around Nagoya Station is a meaningful record of Japanese stone culture and local faith.
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Recorded on July 14, 2026
Written on July 15, 2026