Experience Kanazawa | Must-Go Places

Sohjiji Temple

This is the father temple of the Soto school, even though the head temple is now located in Yokohama.

This temple of the Soto school of Buddhism was opened in 1321 during the Kamakura period. Keizan, later known as Soto's great patriarch Taiso Johsai Daishi, founded the present temple. In 1898 during the Meiji period, unfortunately most of the entire temple was burned down, and the head temple function was relocated to Tsurumi, Yokohama. Accordingly, this temple became the Soin (father temple). Even now, monks continue their austere practices inside the temple grounds. It's about 30 minutes by bus from the previous train station called Wajima-eki.

By Wawa / Published: Sep 20, 2012

Sohjiji Temple

This is the father temple of the Soto school, even though the head temple is now located in Yokohama.

Place: Sodoshu Daihonzan Sohjiji Soin (1-18-1, Monzen, Monzen-machi, Wajima City, Noto Peninsula / Phone 0768-42-0005 / Fax 0768-42-1002)
Entrance fee: adult 400 yen (individual); adult 360 yen (per person in a group of over 30 adults); high school student 300 yen (individual); high school student 270 yen (per person in a group of over 30 students); junior high school student 200 yen (individual); junior high school student 180 yen (per person in a group of over 30 students); elementary student 150 yen(individual); elementary student 130 (per person in a group of over 30 students)
How to get to Wajima City: Hokutetsu Express Bus "Kanazawa-Wajima Line

The temple sustained damage from the Noto earthquake in 2007.

The great gate near the entrance is called “Sanmon”, which was built in 1932. It was designed to face Golden Pavilion in Kyoto. However, it sustained considerable damage in the 2007 Noto earthquake. Today, you can still see the damages on the roof.
In front of “Sanmon”, you can see a red bridge called “Long-life bridge.” It is said that you will be blessed for a longer and happier life if you walk over the bridge to enter the Sanmon gate.

Making one counterclockwise rotation means completing a read all the sutra.

Another historical building in the temple is “Kyozu.” It is over 300 years old. Inside the building, a collection of sutra is stored in a huge moveable wooden cylinder bookshelf. The collection of sutra is so huge that it takes days for the monks to finish reading all of them. When a monk moves the cylinder bookshelf for one complete cycle in counterclockwise rotation, it means he has completed reading all the sutra. Unfortunately, the bookshelf has also damaged in the earthquake, so it can not be moved now.

It is very rare to see the process of repairing a historical site.

The temple is currently under construction to recover the damages from the earthquake. The center of the earthquake was pretty close to this temple, thus it takes many years to finish it. However, it's still open to the public, and they give you an opportunity to see a makeup a Buddhist temple from the inside. It is very rare to see the process of repairing a historical site, so you should go check it out.

Meditation: Reset your mind to get a peaceful life!

Meditation is a great exercise to make your mind free of scattered thoughts and various patterns. You will realize that all the activity of the mind is reduced to one.

The temple welcomes anyone to practice meditation with the monks, as long as you make a reservation.
The basic meditation takes about one hour, and you are more than welcomed to extend the time if you want to enjoy it more. It is a great experience when you visit the temple.

Meditation fee: 300 yen per person and per hour
*Reservation via fax required. Please download the reservation form!
http://www.wannet.jp/noto-soin/haisyukufax.html

You can also try the overnight-stay meditation program.

The price is 6,500 yen for one night stay and two meals (breakfast and dinner). The maximum stay is 3 days/2 nights. However, a single woman needs to make a reservation with females' temple.

Lodging and meals:
Adult 6,500 yen;
High school student 5,500 yen;
Junior high school student 4,500 yen;
Elementary school student 3,500 yen
*Prices above include 2 meals (breakfast and dinner) and 1 night stay.
*You'll be charged and reservation is required for lunch.
*The maximum stay is 3 days / 2 nights. Lunch won’t be provided in 3rd day.
*A single woman needs to contact the nunnery below!
Aichi-ken Senmon Niso-doh. Phone 052-751-2671