Place of Tranquility
Eiheiji Temple, dedicated to the Soto school of Zen Buddhism, was established in 1244 by Dogen. Tucked back into dense forests and mountains in the west of Fukui Prefecture, the temple hosts 70 buildings on the vast precinct, and is surrounded by trees up to 700 years old. Even today, Buddhist monks gather here from across Japan to train, allowing visitors to try zazen seated meditation, copying sutras, and other forms of Zen training.
After paying homage at the temple, browse through souvenir shops along the street in front of the temple, and try some soba (buckwheat) noodles, a local specialty.
