🗺️ Daishōzan Saijō-ji

Saijō-ji is an ancient temple established on the hillside of Myōjin-dake, one of the outer mountains of Hakone. It was founded in the first year of the Ōei era (1394) during the mid-Muromachi period, and it has a history of approximately 600 years. Saijō-ji is the highest-ranking Sōtō Zen temple after Eihei-ji in Fukui Prefecture and Sōji-ji in Tsurumi, Yokohama, with about 4,000 branch temples across the country. The temple was founded by Zen Master Ryōan Eimei, and the main object of worship (Gohonzon) is Shakyamuni Buddha. Saijō-ji is also widely known among locals as "Dōryō-son," because during its construction, Dōryō, a disciple of Ryōan Eimei, dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the temple. According to legend, after Ryōan Eimei passed away, Dōryō transformed into a tengu and flew into the mountains, and since then, he has been worshipped as the guardian deity of the temple. Due to this legend, within the temple grounds, one can see a massive iron wooden clogs weighing 3.8 tons, along with various other iron wooden clogs and tengu fans. The temple complex is centered around the main hall and includes more than 30 halls and pagodas. Starting from the Nio-mon gate to the worship path, which is about 3 kilometers long, there are cedar trees over 500 years old, designated as a natural monument of the prefecture, with lush greenery. Additionally, the changing natural scenery with the seasons is another highlight of Saijō-ji. In spring, there are weeping cherry blossoms and wisteria, in summer, hydrangeas, in autumn, maple leaves, and in winter, snowy landscapes, allowing visitors to enjoy beautiful sights throughout the year.

- The temple was established in the first year of the Eien era, and it has a history of about 600 years. It is an ancient temple of the Sōtō school, with approximately 4,000 branches nationwide. - There are legends of Tengu, and within the temple grounds, there are statues of Tengu and many tall wooden clogs. - Visitors can enjoy a path lined with cedar trees that are over 500 years old, as well as various seasonal flowers and trees.