Summer Market: Wind-chime Festival at the Nishiarai Daishi |singlerockworld A Japan travel blog

I arrived here at one of the three main 'Daishi' temples in Tokyo, Nishi-Arai Daishi, for a special festival. Although the temple's formal name is Soji-ji (總持寺), everyone calls it by its common name, Nishiarai Daishi temple (西新井大師). Actually, the common name of the temple, Nishiarai Daishi, has a story behind it.

The story goes like this - A long time ago, there was a great drought in this area. A highly respected Buddhist monk, Kōbō Daishi the Great Teacher (弘法大師) came to this area to help the suffering people. He carved out an 11-faced Kannon statue where he then knelt down to pray for 21 days, which then, a dried-out well began to fill with water again. Everybody gets their water from the well, and the drought ended.

Now, the magic well was located on the west side of the temple, thus, the name, Nishiarai, which literally stands for the West New Well (西新井) and the latter name is to honour the great Buddhist monk, Kōbō Daishi, who ended the drought.

So here I am exploring a relatively low-key festival, the wind-chime festival or also called as the fuurin matsuri (風鈴祭り) in this relatively unexplored neighbourhood.

It was a hot day and I guess not so many people wants to linger too long

In this festival, only artisan-made wind-chimes are on sale. Each and every wind-chime is made uniquely and this is the place where the artisan from all over the country will be showcasing and selling their beautiful creations. The festival exhibits a variety of colours, shapes and sounds. Here you can browse, touch and listen to the sound of the wind-chime.

Although, most of the wind-chimes are made out of glass, but there are some unique ones that are made out of metal and bamboo. The prices of the wind-chimes varies. A simple one can cost about 500yen, but some can cost more than 5,000yen.

When you have found your wind-chime, all you have to do is to write down the number of that wind-chime and take it to the temple's booth to pay. You will be given a receipt along with a carefully boxed parcel containing the wind-chime.

Although, I arrived a bit late to the festival, but I must say that I am still impressed with the collection of Japanese wind-chimes that were on display here. I believe if you arrive early, you will be able to see an even more selection of wind-chimes.

The nearest station to the Nishiarai Daishi temple is the Daishi-mae Station (大師前駅) on Daishi Line, which is an extension of the Tobu Sky Tree Line (東武スカイツリーライン, Tōbu Sukaitsurii-rain). The temple is only 5-mins walk from the station.

Big but empty station

If you started your journey from anywhere other than in the Kita-senju station (北千住駅, Kitasenju-eki), i is best to take the train on the Metro Chiyoda Line (東京地下鉄千代田線 Tōkyō Chikatetsu Chiyoda-sen) heading towards Abiko (我孫子).

Get off at the Kita-senju station, but stay on the same platform to catch the train on the Tobu Sky Tree Line to get to Nishiarai Station (西新井駅, Nishiarai-eki). The platform serves both Metro Line and Tobu Line.

Once you get to Nishiarai station, you have to get off again to change to the Daishi Line.

At Nishiarai station, waiting for the next train to Daishi-mae station

For Daishi Line

The Daishi-mae Station is on a single track rail from Nishiarai station. And you pay for your journey at the Nishiarai station not at the Daishi-mae station.

The single track line

The sign to pay your train fare at the Nishiarai station

No ticket booth

The whole journey should take about 40mins. As I boarded the train ride from Ikebukuro, the whole journey costs me about ¥390 per way.

Alternatively, you can board the Toei bus No. Oh-40-Ko (都バス - 王４０甲) from the east exit of Ikebukuro station and stop at the Nishi-Arai Daishi Bus Stop (西新井大師バス停, Nishi-Arai Daishi Basu-Tei). The timetable for the bus can be found here. The whole journey is only 210yen. By bus, it takes about an hour to reach, but you get to see another view of the city which you usually can't on a train ^^.

If you are looking for an authentic wind-chime, then, this is the festival for you. Find that perfect wind-chime just for yourself at this annual festival held in the grounds of Adachi's Nishiarai Daishi temple.