Didn’t have a lot planned for yesterday so had a much needed later start. Headed to Shinagawa station to go to Sengaku-ji – a Buddhist temple and the location of the graves of the 47 Ronin (Ako Gishi).
The short story is that when Lord Asano of Ako went to the Edo Castle in 1701, a court official named Kira treated him with malice and disgraced his honour as a samurai. Asano couldn’t handle it any longer and drew his sword on him, which was forbidden in the castle. His punishment was death by seppuku, but Kira was not punished. Asano’s retainers then vowed to avenge their Lord’s death, which they did almost 2 years later when they raided Kira’s mansion and chopped off his head. They took his head back to Sengaku-ji where their Lord was buried and placed it on his grave. They turned themselves in as they knew their deed meant they would have to commit seppuku. Their story is popular here as it shows the absolute loyalty of the samurai.
We spent much longer there than we thought. It was super interesting and a lovely, quiet place to visit. There were 2 wee museums with relics (samurai armour, letters and the receipt for Kira’s head! and wooden statues of the 47 ronin) and plum trees transplanted from other places related to the story.
In the evening we met up with some friends and had an awesome dinner at an izakaya.
Great day!
STUDIO NELLOE 
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