The Soto Zen School has two head temples. One is the Soujiji in Tsurumi, Yokohama. The other is the Eiheiji in Fukui Prefecture. In 1244, Dogen Zenji, the founder of Soto Zen, opened a temple called the Sanshoho Daibutsuji, the name of which was later changed to Kichijozan Eiheiji. This was the beginning of the Eiheiji as we know it now.

General View of the Eiheiji

The lofty ideal on which the temple was founded is to serve as a fundamental place of Buddhist discipline according to the correctly transmitted teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha.
The characters ei (eternal) and hei (peaceful) in the temple name symbolize the eternal peace and happiness Buddhism brings.

Main gate, or sanmon

With its approximately seven and a half centuries of tradition, the Eiheiji is still the scene of devout, day-and-night discipline for more than 200 priests-in-training. Suggestive of the profundity of Zen itself, ancient cryptomeria cedars and murmuring mountain streams inspire all visitors with a sense of reverence.

Chūjaku-mon Gate

Priests-in-training at work. Various tasks are assigned to novice priests as part of their discipline