Eihei-ji Temple
永平寺
The head temple of the Soto Zen school, founded in 1244 by Master Dogen. Seven main halls connected by covered corridors stand among ancient cedar forests, and more than a hundred monks still train here.
Eiheiji is located in the mountains of Eiheiji Town, Fukui Prefecture. It was founded by Dogen Zenji, the founder of the Japanese Soto Zen school, and is one of the two head temples of the school. About 70 halls are built into the mountainside. The Seven Halls of Eiheiji, including the sanmon gate, Buddha hall, Dharma hall, and monks' hall, are linked by long covered corridors. Visitors must remove their shoes and walk the corridors, where they can glimpse the daily life of the monks. The ceiling of Sanshō-kaku hall features 230 paintings of flowers and birds. Admission is about 700 yen (check with the temple for current fees). You can book a zazen meditation session or a stay in the temple lodgings. Please keep quiet and do not photograph the monks in training.
Getting there: The Hokuriku Shinkansen now reaches Fukui. It's about 25 minutes from Kanazawa to Fukui Station, then about 30 minutes by Keifuku bus.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:30–16:30 (until 16:00 in winter)
Nearby sights
- Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins
- Maruoka Castle
- Yōkōkan Garden
- Fukui Station Dinosaur Plaza
- Fukui Castle Ruins
- Asuwa River Cherry Blossoms
- Echizen-Ōno Castle
- Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum