Jul 31, 2014 - 1 min read

Graceful Pagoda of Eiheiji Temple

Eiheiji Guide 13: Scenic two-storied pagoda in a forest

By Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

Looking at the beautiful pagoda through trees

Looking up at the newly-built pagoda from below. It was built in 1996 to contain copies of sutra written and donated by Buddhist believers. The pagoda can house 1,000,000 sutra!

Pagoda seen through green and red leaves

Pagoda in the forest looking fresh after a summer shower

Beautiful pagoda stands silently in a garden

Pagoda and tall cedar trees. Everything looks fresh and green here

This photo story is to guide you step-by-step as you explore Eiheiji Temple in Fukui, the Zen temple of 'Eternal Peace'. The thirteenth guide focuses on 'Hōontō (Pagoda)'. This two-storied pagoda was built in 1996 in order to house copies of sutra written and donated by Buddhist believers. Inside, there are 500 boxes capable of housing 1,000,000 sutra in total. If you pay 2,000 yen, you can write sutras on designated pieces of paper, to be placed in a box inside Hōontō, and your writing will live with this beautiful pagoda forever! (Call 0776-63-3102 for details. You can speak to one of young, cute trainee monks, but they only speak in Japanese!)

For other photos, please see these other photo stories, a detailed history, this article, and the other entries to this guide, the links below.