Zenpuku-ji, Buddhist temple in Moto-Azabu, Japan.
Zenpuku-ji is a Buddhist temple in the Moto-Azabu district of Tokyo with a very long tradition. The wooden main hall is listed as a protected cultural property and forms the central point of the compound.
The monk Kukai founded the temple in the ninth century during the Heian period. Thirty years after Japan opened to the world, the compound served as the first diplomatic mission of the United States in the country.
The temple sits in the upscale Moto-Azabu neighborhood and draws both worshippers and visitors exploring the quiet garden paths. Many of the older graves bear names central to Japanese education history.
The compound is reached from Azabu-juban Station, which is served by two subway lines. A short walk leads from the exit through narrow lanes to the temple gate.
A massive ginkgo tree, over seven hundred years old, stands in the courtyard and is listed among the protected natural monuments of the city. The tree survived the air raids of World War II while many other structures in the area were destroyed.
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