I got off at Echizen Railway’s Eiheiji-guchi Station.
Thinking “Wait, isn’t this the station in front of the temple?”, I transferred to a Keifuku bus.
After about 15 minutes on the bus, I arrived at “Eiheiji-monzen.”
A large stone lantern inscribed with “Mujintō” (Endless Light) stands on the grounds of Eiheiji.
This pond near the entrance of Eiheiji is called “Hōjōchi” (Liberation Pond).
From here, it’s the paid admission area.
Eiheiji is surprisingly large.
This is the Sanmon (Mountain Gate), rebuilt in 1749 (Kan’en 2). It is the oldest among the approximately 70 buildings of various sizes still existing at Eiheiji.
The long corridors stretching upward are symbolic of Eiheiji — these are the “Kairō” (covered walkways).
There are two long corridors, one on the east and one on the west.
During Golden Week, the flow of people never stopped, so this was the one shot I managed to capture.
The interior of the Hattō (Dharma Hall), located at the highest point among Eiheiji’s Seven Main Halls (Shichidō Garan).
Monks in black robes walk briskly down the corridors.
I felt a bit guilty taking photos, but I went ahead and did it anyway.
At Eiheiji, “Igi” (dignified conduct) is taken very seriously.
The way you walk in the corridors, the etiquette for meals, how you greet others — there are strict rules for everything.
When I compared it to my everyday life, I realized how inadequate I was in every aspect.
It was over 30°C in May.
On this day, Fukui surprisingly recorded a high of 30.8°C.
I never expected it to get this hot during Golden Week.Since Eiheiji is located in the mountains, I thought it would be somewhat cooler, but after walking around, I was drenched in sweat.
While walking on the stone pavement of the approach, I kept thinking, “I should have bought water.”
The vending machines on the temple grounds were a true blessing.
Summary: Eiheiji
Eiheiji was founded in 1244 (Kangen 2) by Zen Master Dōgen.
It is still an active monastery where approximately 200 monks live and train every day.
It is a tourist destination, yet at this very moment, someone is practicing Zen here.
The grounds feature the Seven Main Halls (Shichidō Garan), which are connected by covered corridors, allowing visitors to walk along the designated route.It was a unique place where I felt nervous taking photos (“Is it okay to shoot this?”), which added to the excitement.The air feels different here — or rather, it makes you want to “do things properly.”Whether it’s the monks or the depth of the temple itself, this place is the embodiment of photogenic beauty.
I highly recommend it to anyone who loves photography.Just be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes — there are lots of stone paths and stairs.Shooting Date: May 5, 2024
Location: Eiheiji Town, Yoshida District, Fukui Prefecture (Eiheiji Temple)
Camera: OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1 Mark II + M.ZUIKO 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 / iPhone
Weather: Clear (cloudy at night)
High Temperature: 30.8℃
Low Temperature: 14.1℃
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