How (and Why) to Go to Japan’s Eihei-ji Temple

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The primary time I went to Fukui, I wasn’t particularly conscious of my itinerary. I used to be there considerably unexpectedly—principally, I had a free day after I was in any other case primarily based in Kanazawa—and determined to tick one among Japan’s least-loved prefectures off my record.

Though I loved many of the locations I visited, you may argue that I used to be considerably careless about the way in which I went about seeing them. For instance, I declined to look at sundown on the Tojinbo Cliffs, as a substitute visiting within the morning.

One other oversight? I went to Daihonzan Eihei-ji Temple when all its leaves have been new and deep-green, relatively than within the autumn season for which your complete place is known. (As you’ll see studying this text, I’ve now corrected that mistake!)

How I Discovered of Eihei-ji

As embarrassing because it sounds, I didn’t know if I might discover Eihei-ji value visiting after I went there for the primary time. I merely had an additional day to spare throughout a visit to Kanazawa and, after renting a automotive close to Fukui Station throughout my practice experience westward, determined to pack my itinerary with as many locations as attainable. If I’m trustworthy, I’m undecided I even noticed an image of the temple earlier than I turned up.

Quite, I had seen it listed someplace, or possibly merely on Google Maps—I knew I needed to go to the aforementioned Tojinbo Cliffs, for instance, and that I needed to finish up in Katsuyama Metropolis far to its east. To some extent, Eihei-ji was merely “on the way in which,” and it appeared unusual to not go there since I used to be planning to be within the neighborhood anyway. 

All of the Methods to Go to Eihei-ji

Day journey from Fukui

 

The best strategy to attain Eihei-ji is from Fukui Station, the place there are common direct buses can take you to the temple. Likewise, the drive from Fukui-shi (and, because you’d have a automotive, from different cities like Tsuruga and Obama) can be fairly quick.

Day journey from Kanazawa or Toyama

 

Is Eihei-ji value it if coming from additional afield? Effectively, should you’re elsewhere in Hokuriku (particularly, the cities of Kanazawa and Toyama), it’s actually easy. You’ll simply have to experience a Shinkansen from both of these stations to Fukui Station, and proceed as should you have been taking a day journey from there.

Day journey from Kyoto

 

In concept, you may go by practice from Kyoto Station to Fukui Station (a Thunderbird Restricted Specific to Tsuruga, and a Shinkansen from there) and go by bus from there to do a day journey all the way in which from Kyoto to Eihei-ji. For causes I’m about to stipulate, nonetheless, it’s arguably higher to have a automotive on this case.

A part of a Fukui highway journey

 

You probably have a automotive, then regardless of the place you begin out, your Eihei-ji day journey doesn’t have to finish there. Relying upon how a lot time you’ve, you may go to a variety of different locations in Fukui, from the Tonjinbo Cliffs and Obama within the west, to Katsuyama within the east.

Keep in a single day in Eihei

 

Though you’ll be able to’t take pleasure in correct shukubo lodging at Eihei-ji as you’ll be able to at, say, Koyasan or Aomori’s Osorezan Bodai-ji, you’ll be able to keep in a single day in Eiheiji city. My favourite place for that is Eiheiji Hakujukan, if it’s out there in your dates.

When is the Greatest Time to Go to Eihei-ji?

As I’ve already each acknowledged and implied throughout this itinerary, autumn is unquestionably probably the most stunning time to go to Eihei-ji. Though there’s a sure magnificence about seeing the bushes throughout it of their purest verdant kind, the actual selection and brilliance of the bushes right here merely fits the environment of the temple significantly better. Its comparatively distant location ensures that it gained’t be practically as crowded as different all sights, both.

In parallel to this, the Eihei-ji autumn tends to come back somewhat bit early than the season does in different elements of the Hokuriku area. On the date of my most up-to-date go to, a lot of the close by city of Obama (which is at sea degree) was fully inexperienced. Regardless of this, driving simply over an hour to Eihei-ji revealed a temple that was fully immersed in a sea of crimson, orange and yellow.

Different FAQ About Visiting Eihei-ji Temple

What’s the Eiheiji temple?

Eihei-ji is a beautiful mountain zen temple in Fukui, Japan. It’s well-known, amongst different causes, as a coaching middle for monks who want to observe Shikantaza, a kind of sitting meditation. Its architectural and pure magnificence has made it well-known amongst vacationers as properly, although it stays comparatively uncrowded as of the late 2020s.

How do I get to Eiheiji?

You may attain Eihei-ji by a mix of practice and bus from Fukui Station, itself accessible by Shinkansen from Kanazawa, Toyama and Tokyo, or a pair of quick trains from Kyoto and Osaka. Alternatively, renting a automotive in Fukui or Kyoto can permit you not solely to entry Eihei-ji, however to discover it at your leisure within the context of the remainder of Fukui-ken.

Is Eiheiji value visiting?

Eihei-ji is unquestionably value visiting, as an necessary Buddhist temple constructed on a closely wooded hillside in a rural and comparatively non-busy a part of Japan. Nevertheless, coming within the autumn (colours normally attain their peak right here round November 15) can take your journey to a different degree, and vastly enhance your ROI.

The Backside Line

Eihei-ji Temple is astonishing, even should you aren’t capable of go to throughout its iconic autumn season. That is particularly the case should you lease a automotive, which can permit you go to the temple along with different sights in surrounding Fukui and adjoining Ishikawa prefectures. To this finish, coming throughout winter (when it’s attainable for the close by Echizen Coast could possibly be buried in deep snow) or spring (when a number of sights within the Hokiriku area can be pink and white with sakura) make good comfort prizes. Want personalised assist incorporating Eihei-ji into the larger image of your Japan journey? Think about commissioning a customized Japan itinerary right this moment!

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