honjyuin.com

Honjuin is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Minami-Magome, Ota City, Tokyo, known for helping people navigate memorial and end-of-life concerns. A distinctive feature is its “kotsu-botoke,” or bone Buddha: a Buddhist statue enshrined using human remains, presented as an alternative for those considering burial options. The temple also offers guidance on posthumous and prearranged Buddhist names, funerals, memorial services, grave closure, and sending remains.

Honjuin conducts daily services for mizuko kuyo, the memorial rite for children who were not born, and welcomes private requests for discreet observance. Its monthly public doll memorial services extend to the remembrance of personal belongings and household altars. Visitors can take part in hands-on Buddhist activities, including making small clay Buddhas, copying sutras, and receiving calligraphy stamps. The temple also provides online memorial services, consultations, and reservation-based experiences. Open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Honjuin welcomes visitors for worship and offers scheduled group services as well as appointments for ceremonies and consultations.