Eiho-Ji Temple
A Spot of Heaven in Hot as Hell Tajimi

岐阜県多治見市にある永保寺（正式名称は臨済宗南禅寺派 虎渓山永保寺）
1313年（鎌倉時代）に開創された、小高い虎渓山（こけいざん）に佇む禅寺です。
「虎渓」の名前の由来は、禅宗の僧侶である夢窓疎石（むそう　そせき）が、この地を訪れた際に
中国にある世界遺産・蘆山（ろざん）にある渓谷（虎渓）の風景に似ていたことから名付けられたと
言われています。

Tajimi, a small city about 25 Km north of Nagoya City in on the border of Aichi and Gifu Prefectures,
has the unenviable reputation of being the nations’ hottest place. Every summer the mountain locked
Tajimi records the nations highest temperatures, the record being 40.9 degrees Celsius, Japan’s hottest
ever, on August 16 2007. In winter, Hell freezes over.

Heaven is found in the city’s northern districts.  Heaven comes in the form of the Zen gardens of the Eiho-Jistablished in 1313, the Kokeizan Eiho-Ji is one of the nations most recognized Zen Buddhism Zazen training temples. Because of this, visitors are requested to remain as quiet as possible, so as not to disturb the
practitioners concentration. The temple regularly offers zazen training sessions to the general public.
As such, the temple and its stunning gardens are amongst the most tranquil.

一歩足を踏み入れれば、そこには、思わず息をのむような美しい風景が！
庭園は国の名勝にも指定されており、春には桜、夏は青葉、秋には鮮やかに赤く色づく紅葉、冬には
雪景色など、四季折々さまざまな美しい景色を見せてくれます。鎌倉末期に建てられた国宝「観音堂」と
「開山堂」も必見！観音堂の桧皮茸（ひわだぶき）の屋根、そりの美しさなど、日本の建築の伝統美を思う存分
味わうことができます。2003年には、本堂と庫裏が全焼してしまいましたが、市民を中心とした募金活動によって
2007年には庫裏が2011年には本堂が再建されました。

  （観音堂 / Kannondo）

Two of the ancient temples’ buildings have been listed as National Treasures.
The Kannondo, at the foot of the elegantly arched bridge, famed for it’s zen architecture, and housing
zen art, and on the hill slightly behind it, the Kaisando. The Kaisendso houses the Kenpon Choshoku
Senju Kannonzo, a National Cultural Asset designated silk fabric rendering of the Thousand Armed Kannon,
Goddess of Mercy, along with calligraphy by the Eiho-Ji’s founding priests. Unfortunately, one of the prayer
halls and monk’s living quarters burned down in 2003, but were hastily rebuilt in 2007 to the exact
specifications of its predecessor. The temples treasures are displayed in early spring.

The garden and natural areas surrounding the Kannondo has been designated as a Place of Extraordinary
Beauty. Indeed, year round it is breathtaking. The picturesque gardens are famed for their cherry blossom
in spring, wisteria in early summer, the stunning fall colors of autumn the snow in the winter.

多くのお地蔵様が祀られている六角堂のある梵音岩からは滝が流れており、こちらもとても癒される風景です。
ゴツゴツとした岩肌の間に見える、お地蔵様の優しいお顔にも癒されます。
大都市・名古屋から、ほんの少しのドライブ（JR線での移動も可能）で行くことのできる素晴らしいスポット
虎渓山永保寺。どの季節に行っても、素晴らしい景観を楽しむことができる貴重な場所です。

The stunning Zen garden features a waterfall cascading over the rocks below the Rokkakudo overlooking
the carp filled lake. The Musaibashi, the Endless Bridge acts as a focal point. Located within a small valley
covered with natural forest means the temple is surrounded by greenery. The temple is also surrounded
by subsidiary temples, including the impressive looking Zokuho-In, the Tokurin-In and the Hoju-In.

An hour by car from Nagoya City, and just two km from the Tajimi Interchange, or 45 minutes by Chuo
Line train, alighting at Tajimi Station. From there, it’s a 30 plus minute brisk walk, or a 10 minute taxi
ride to the temple. Although a bus stops at “Kokeizan”, service is sporadic and difficult to time.
Free parking is available just before the train line and a short walk from the temple.

Eihoji Temple

ADDRESS: 岐阜県多治見市虎渓山町1-42 (Gifu-ken, Tajimi-shi, Kokeizan-chou 1-42)
HOURS: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 
WEB SITE：http://www.kokei.or.jp 　（Japanese Only）

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