Eihō-ji
永保寺
A Buddhist temple built for quiet — halls, gardens and incense smoke.
Best season
April (blossom) and mid-November–early December (foliage)
Time needed
45–90 minutes
Admission
Roughly ¥300–800 for halls and gardens (≈ $2–5)
Opening hours
Typically 8:30–17:00 (shorter in winter)
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.
What this place is
Eihō-ji (永保寺) is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple located in northern area of the city of Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Founded in the Kamakura period, two of the structures of the temple are designated National Treasures of Japan and its gardens are a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty.
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Why it is worth the trip
- Main halls housing Buddhist statuary, some of it designated National Treasure or Important Cultural Property.
- Gardens designed to be looked at rather than walked through — raked gravel, moss, borrowed mountain scenery.
- Wooden architecture with deep eaves and joinery assembled without nails, often rebuilt over many centuries.
What you can do here
- Light incense at the burner and waft the smoke over yourself before entering the main hall.
- Sit on the veranda facing the garden — that is the intended way to see it, and it costs nothing extra.
- Receive a goshuin seal, or try a short zazen / sutra-copying session where offered.
- Walk the temple's pagoda, bell tower and sub-temples; many stay open later than the main hall.
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
Good to know before you go
- Remove your shoes where indicated and carry them in the plastic bag provided.
- Keep voices low inside halls; photography of the principal image is often prohibited.
- Autumn foliage and spring blossom seasons bring long queues — go right at opening.
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