Eiheiji is one of the two head temples of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism, founded by the monk Dogen in the thirteenth century, and it remains an active monastery where monks train today rather than a preserved historical site. Visitors walk through a large complex of connected wooden halls and corridors set among tall cedar trees, and the atmosphere is shaped by the ongoing monastic routine rather than by tourism. Like the dinosaur museum, this is a crossing into Fukui Prefecture, which is why the trip takes most of a day from Kanazawa.
| Distance | 85 km south of Kanazawa |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 2 hours by car; 2.5 hours by train + bus |
| Getting there | Car via Route 364 then Route 416; or JR Hokuriku Line to Fukui then Echizen Railway to Eiheiji-guchi |
| Address | 5-15 Shihi, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui 910-1294 |
How to get there
- JR to Fukui (35 min, ¥2,290, ~$15); Echizen Railway Katsuyama-Eiheiji Line to Eiheiji-guchi (16 min, ¥400, ~$3); Keifuku Bus to temple gate (10 min, ¥310, ~$2)
Location
5-15 Shihi, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui 910-1294
36.0893, 136.4895 View on map
Highlights
- Sanmon Gate - the formal main entrance to the temple complex, through which new monks are traditionally admitted
- Sodo (monks' hall) and the network of covered wooden corridors connecting the temple's main halls, built to allow monks to move between buildings without stepping outside
- The cedar forest surrounding the temple grounds, which gives the approach its quiet, enclosed feel
- Sanzen zazen sessions - short seated meditation sessions for visitors, offered at set times and usually requiring advance reservation