basic information

Eiheiji is the head temple of the Soto Sect of Zen Buddhism. It was founded in 1244 by Dogen Zenji, the Buddhist scholar who introduced Soto Zen to Japan in 1228, after studying in China for several years.

Eiheiji stands in the wooded hills, about 15 kilometers outside of Fukui City. It consists of over 70 buildings and structures, connected with each other by covered walkways.

Eiheiji is still an active monastery with around 150 practicing Zen monks. It is also possible for foreign visitors to stay at the temple for one or more nights and follow the monks' daily routine.

A one night stay costs 8000 Yen and includes a bath, dinner and evening meditation on the first day, and an early start (3:30am), meditation session, morning service and breakfast on the second day.

Participants of the more demanding multiple night lay practice program follow most of the monks' daily routine for typically three nights and four days at 3000 Yen per night.

Applications for overnight stays should be made well in advance. For details, consult the links at the bottom of the page.

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how to get there

Eiheiji is less than one hour from Fukui.

How to get to Fukui

There are direct JR limited express trains to Fukui from Osaka (2h, 5360yen), Kyoto (80min, 4300yen), Nagoya (2h, 5040yen) and Maibara (1h, 2770yen) on the Tokaido Shinkansen.

How to get from Fukui to Eiheiji

With the recent closure of the Eiheiji railway line, access to Eiheiji by public transportation has become less convenient.

There is about one hourly connection by Echizen Railroad from Fukui Station to Eiheiji-Guchi Station (25min, 440yen), where you transfer to a Keifuku bus to Eiheiji (15min, 410yen).

There are also about four direct Keifuku buses from Fukui Station to Eiheiji per day, taking 30 minutes and costing 720 Yen. As of summer 2003, they were leaving Fukui Station at 10:00, 11:50, 13:30 and 15:30.

Finally, if you approach Fukui from the north, e.g. from Kanazawa, another way to get to Eiheiji is by getting off at Awara Onsen, one stop before Fukui (by limited express train), where you can transfer to a direct Keifuku bus to Eiheiji (60min, 1100yen).

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.

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