This tem­ple of the Tendai sect, con­struct­ed in 733, is near­ly the old­est in the Tokyo area, sec­ond only to Sen­so­ji in Asakusa. Although the tem­ple build­ing itself is mod­est, the sur­round­ing vil­lage of food stands, soba restau­rants and water­wheels evokes an image of Edo-per­i­od Japan, and makes Jindai­ji Tem­ple a hid­den gem in sub­ur­ban Tokyo. The tem­ple com­plex hous­es a bronze stat­ue of Sha­ka Nyorai, a Bud­dha. The stat­ue is said to date from around 700, and is housed in a sep­a­rate con­crete build­ing.