At the monk Tenkai's (Jigen Daishi) suggestion, the living quarters of Kan-eiji Temple, or Toeizan Kan-eiji Temple of the Tendai Sect of Buddhism, was founded in 1625 as a guardian temple, which protects the northeastern quarter of Edo Castle. "Toeizan" means the east "Hieizan." The temple was named "Kan-eiji" because it was built in the Kan-ei Era. The temple flourished as the family temple of the Tokugawa shoguns, graves of which are also located in Zojoji Temple, and had the Endon-in quarters and some smaller temples in its precincts. However, most of them were burnt down during so-called "Battle of Ueno," which was fought in 1868 between the government army and the Shogitai. The main hall of the temple was originally located at Kitain Temple in Kawagoe City and later moved to the present location in 1879. (Ueno Sakuragi 1-chome, Taito City)