Nishitoku-ji

Saitoku-ji, formally known as Kosho-zan Saitoku-ji, is a temple of the Shinshū Bukko-ji sect in Taito Ward, Tokyo. Founded in 1604 by the monk Saitoku in Kanda, it was relocated to its current site near Ryusen after the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657. The temple stood close to the Yoshiwara pleasure district, serving as a place of memorial services for courtesans and a meeting ground for their families. Many grave markers and memorial towers remain on the grounds today. The celebrated author Kafu Nagai visited this temple and immortalized it in his writings. It continues to stand quietly in Taito Ward as a testament to the area's layered history.