Introduction to Hokoji Temple
Hokoji Temple was founded in 1371 and is the head temple of the Hokoji school of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism. It is located in the mountains, about an hour by bus from Hamamatsu Station.
Many temple treasures have been preserved, including the Shaka Triad, an Important Cultural Property. Other highlights include buildings such as the main hall and the Kaizan-do hall, as well as the many arhat statues lining the approach to the temple.
Shukubo (temple stay)
I checked in at the reception desk near the main hall and a monk showed me to my room. The grounds are a very vast facility and I was impressed. The four of us quietly ate buddhist vegetarian cuisine in the dining room, which was over 100 tatami mats in size.
The next morning, we woke up at 5:30 and were guided by a monk to the main hall. A morning service was held and prayers were offered for our health and safety.
After a buddhist vegetarian breakfast, we took a walk through the surrounding nature before checking out.
Buddhist vegetarian cuisine
I made a reservation and had buddhist vegetarian cuisine for lunch. We were shown to a spacious tatami-floored room in the shukubo opposite the main hall.
The menu includes rice, miso soup, sesame tofu, imitation eel, boiled pumpkin, yuba, freeze-dried tofu, purple sweet potato buns, okra dressed with sesame seeds, konjac, mozuku seaweed, and pickled radish.
iThe eel imitation was made using tofu, lotus root, burdock, and mountain yam, with seaweed used to represent eel skin. The sesame tofu topped with yuzu miso had a refreshing taste. The purple sweet potato buns were stuffed with lotus root and were sweet and delicious.
Temple guide
After lunch we were given a tour of the temple. The room where the treasures were displayed included folding screens, Buddhist statues, paintings of dragons and ghosts, and more. We also visited the main hall, Kannon (Worship the Avalokitesvara) Hall, and Kaizan (Worship the founder) Hall.
There are many arhat statues lined up within the grounds. Each one had a different pose and expression, so it was fun just looking at them.
