Grave of a Couple, Tagabana and Zembee

Once upon a time, there was a prostitute named Tagabana in the Shibayamachi brothel district in Otsu. She fell in love with Zenbee, a sales clerk in a kimono shop. As a sales clerk, he could not afford to pay the ransom for her. They were disappointed in their fate that they could not be together in this life and threw themselves into the River Seta, hoping they would be able to exchange marriage vows in the next life. Their bodies floating on the river surface around Ishiyamadera Temple were buried in a grave yard in Sairenji Temple by the villagers who sympathized with them. Facing death, they said, “We are dying, as our wish was not granted in this life, but we would like to grant one wish each for the people left behind.” Therefore, it is said that if you visit the grave and make a wish, the wish is well granted; especially it reportedly works wonders for illnesses related to the chest.

place associated with
Sairenji Temple

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