Eigenji Kaikan
Address : 41 Eigenji Takanocho, Higashiomi, ShigaAccess : Ohmi Railway Yokaichi station > (bus) > Eigen-ji bus stop > 10 minutes walkParking : There is a parking lotRoom : max 50 people
Introduction to Eigenji Temple
This is the head temple of the Eigen-ji school of the Rinzai sect, located on the right bank of the Echi River. It is an old temple built in 1361 in the Kamakura period.
It is said as many as 2,000 priest scholars gathered here in its prime. After that, most of the buildings on the mountain were burnt down by fires in wars in 1492 and 1563. However, the buildings were rebuilt in the Edo period and the various halls were recovered.
Also, there are many maple and Japanese maple trees in the area where Eigen-ji is located. In the autumn, they turn red and yellow and many sightseers visit to see the colorful scenery.
In the precinct, there is the priest’s family residence, the bell tower, the hojo room, the Buddhist sanctum and the Kaizando hall. Jyakushitsu Osho Zazo (an image of sitting Priest Jyakushitsu), an important cultural asset housed in the Kaizando hall, is famous.
Shojin vegetarian cuisine
Eigen-ji temple is also deeply related to devil’s tongue. It began when the priest who opened Eigen-ji temple brought back the seed tuber from China and began to cultivate it as a food for zen priests. This devil’s tongue has been passed down until today and became famous as Eigen-ji konnyaku (devil’s tongue).
The shojin vegetarian cuisine they serve at the shukubo is also full of devil’s tongue jelly including sashimi , dengaku, tempura, cooked dishes steak and noodles.
