Gondō is a district reminiscent of the mid-20th century Showa era. It’s a quiet area these days, but back then it was full of life.
There’s a small temple called Ōjōin right around the corner from the district entrance. It’s not major, but it was used to enshrine the principal image of Zenkoji during its reconstruction. The temporary hall during that time was called Gondō, seemingly after the name of the district.
Gondō was known as an entertainment district during the Edo period. During that time, teahouses offering geisha entertainment lined the streets, and visitors of Zenkoji would come here to indulge themselves. This usually meant drinking sake and eating delicious food, but sometimes it would also mean spending the night with a prostitute. Normal people let loose and allowed themselves certain indulgences they normally wouldn't.
The prostitutes of the area have their own stories to tell. They were known to visit Ōjōin to pray to “the god of art,” meaning the art of escape. They hoped to escape from a life of prostitution by any means necessary. Sometimes this meant eloping with a customer, and other times they would open their own teahouse. The point is, they were not the kind of people who would leave their fate to others. Rather, they would take their fate into their own hands and work towards a life of happiness, away from prostitution. Their story is also a part of the story of Zenkoji and the women who were accepted there.
