FACILITY

FACILITY

Sanmon Gate

This gate is part of the Zen temple. There were once three gates either built to the south, east and west of the Zen temple, or built along the temple approach, which is why they were referred to as sanmon (lit. “three gates”). The first character (san) used to write “Sanmon” was later changed from the character for “three” to the character for “mountain” (these are homonyms, both read as san) in reflection of the temple’s location amid the mountains.
The Sanmon Gate was built thanks to a donation in November 1985 by Masao Miura, first chairperson of the preservation society.

Shoshin-kaku Hall（Main Temple Hall and Office）

The phrase shoshin-kokyo means to examine your own thoughts and actions based on the teachings and examples of your predecessors, and by doing so learn about the good and evil inside of yourself. Shoshin-kaku hall, which uses the same word shoshin (“shining the light of Buddha’s teachings on one’s heart”) in its name, is intended to serve as a place for monks in training to carry out the above reflections.
The first floor houses the reception area, and the second floor serves as a venue for Baika-ryu hymn practice, Buddhist memorial services and similar. The bodhisattva Kannon (Guanyin/Avalokiteśvara) is enshrined here. The Kannon image was created by Seibo Kitamura, who passed away in 1987 at the age of 104, and was made possible thanks to the donation of Isamu Ohno, who was the president and effectively the founder of Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.

Temple Seal

The temple’s official seal (stamp) can be received at the temple office.

Daibonsho Bell

This structure was built to house a suspended, hollow temple bell that is rung by striking it from the outside. It was built thanks to a donation in April 1964 from Saburosuke Suzuki, the firstborn son of the Ajinomoto Co., Inc. founder and the company’s third president. The bell is rung every morning at 6:00 a.m. and noon to announce the time. Every visitor is permitted to ring this bell on New Year’s Eve to bid farewell to the old year.

View of Mount Fuji

View of Ofuna

Enjoy a sweeping view of the Ofuna area. We recommend spending some time simply relaxing here.

Matchmaking Tree

People seeking romantic partnerships, as well as couples who are married or dating, often visit this spot to pray for good matching and happily married.

Kannon Statue Interior

Visitors can explore the inside of the Kannon statue as well. The interior is filled with numerous Buddha statues and was created in prayer for the souls of the dead as well as for a peaceful world free from war and nuclear weapons. There is also a booklet used to write messages and prayers to Kannon—feel free to use it!

Jikodo Hall

The light shining from the urna on Kannon’s forehead is said to impart love upon all living things; the jiko from the Jikodo name has this same meaning (the suffix -do simply means “hall”).
Jikodo Hall hosts Zen meditation sessions on Sundays, memorial and prayer services, and other such events and rites. The Sho-Kannon Ritsuzo (Standing Kannon Image) created in the latter part of the Heian Period (Fujiwara Period) and carved from a single tree, is kept here and shown only on the first three days of the New Year in January.

Jizo Statue (Prayers for Children and Warding Off Evil)

This Jizo statue is loved by people of all ages.