Omotesando roads are usually one straight path, but Shinshō-ji’s is an exception. After walking through its twists and turns and going up the hill, you will see the main gate of the temple down below. However, the Daihon-dō that everyone wishes to see is still out of sight. Go through a few gates, climb up some stairs, and only then can you lay your eyes upon it.

Facing the front of the gate, look up above you. On the curved wooden support (“kaeru-mata” in Japanese), you can see carvings of the 12 zodiac animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar.
Regardless of where you are from, surely everyone knows their zodiac sign.

On the omotesando road itself, you can also find the twelve zodiac animals and their guardian deities’ names carved into stones. Did you notice? In fact, in a room on the second floor of this gate, the guardian deity of each animal is enshrined.

In other words, no matter the person walking through this gate, they are protected. Perhaps by passing through this gate you subconsciously feel protected and are washed over with a feeling of sanctity. Now, in “Column 2” you can learn about the proper method for visiting a temple in Japan as well as some other things to keep in mind.