When you turn your gaze from the monorail to the right, you’ll see Tenchuzan Kansho-in Temple on Mt. Tenchuzan. Before the Ancient Tokaido Road was developed, people used to cross this mountain to get around.

This temple was founded in the Kamakura Period as a part of the Soto sect of Buddhism. King Enma, the lord of hell, is enshrined next to the main hall.

There are many small statues lined up on the side of the road leading to the main hall. Do you see them?

These are “Arhat” statues, a title given to the highest-ranking disciples of Buddha. There are 56 Arhat statues enshrined here, all with different poses.

There’s a statue with his hand raised, another one picking his ears... Each one is unique. Which one’s your favorite?

Nowadays, the “Tokaido” is widely known as a transportation hub connecting the Tokyo and Osaka areas, but even before that, many people traveled along the “Ancient Tokaido” with many thoughts in their minds and feelings in their hearts.

What did you think of the history of Izumigaya? We hope we’ve made a difference in the way you see the world, even just a little.

※This guide was created based on documents and interviews and includes some interpretation done by us at ON THE TRIP. Theories differ between experts, so try to find out what really happened on your travels!