Sazaido

Refers to the Sanso-do Hall constructed within the grounds of Gohyakurakan-ji Temple in 1741. The name Sanso-do Hall means the hall that rotates 3 times, and the inside of the hall is a 3 layered spiral shape, structured so that one can climb and descend the tower without using the same passageway twice. The shape was reminiscent of a saza'e (razor clam) so it became known as "Saza'e-do Hall" (razor clam hall). There is a Kannon fudasho (temple which issues amulets) part way through the passage, and it is said if one circles around the entire inside of the hall, then one has completed a Kannon pilgrimage, and this rare opportunity made the site popular with the people of Edo. It was ruined by destructive storms in the Koka Era (1844-48) and the Ansei Great Earthquakes in 1855. Gohyakurakan-ji Temple was relocated to Meguro during the Meiji Era but Saza'e-do Hall no longer exists.

Nishiki-e and Paintings

名所江戸百景　五百羅漢さゞゐ堂

五百羅漢さゞゐ堂

東都名所 五百羅漢さゞゐ堂

五百羅漢さゞゐ堂

Other Materials

• 五百羅漢寺三匝堂（挿絵）　松濤軒斎藤長秋 著 et.al, "江戸名所図会 7巻 [18]" (須原屋茂兵衛[ほか] 1834)
• [五百羅漢寺三匝堂]　其二（挿絵）　松濤軒斎藤長秋 著 et.al, "江戸名所図会 7巻 [18]" (須原屋茂兵衛[ほか] 1834)
• 天恩山五百大阿羅漢禅寺（本文）　松濤軒斎藤長秋 著 et.al, "江戸名所図会 7巻 [18]" (須原屋茂兵衛[ほか] 1834)
• 三帀堂（本文）　松濤軒斎藤長秋 著 et.al, "江戸名所図会 7巻 [18]" (須原屋茂兵衛[ほか] 1834)

Landmarks around Sazaido

Fukagawa Jumantsubo　Kameido Zaifu Tenmangu Shrine　Umeyashiki　Azuma-jinja Shrine　Yanagishima Myokendo Temple　Yatsukoji　Kiba　Koumezutsumi　Suzaki benzaiten no Yashiro Shrine　Akiba Daigongen no Yashiro Shrine