Zuiō-ji

Zuiō-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple in Niihama featuring a two-story bell gate, drum gate, and covered corridors that connect to monastic buildings arranged around a raked gravel courtyard. The grounds sit at the base of the Shikoku Mountains and contain structures dating from the mid-1800s.

The temple was founded in 1448 during a period of expanding Buddhist practices across Japan. Most of the structures visible today were rebuilt or renovated in the mid-1800s, establishing the layout that remains to this day.

The temple belongs to the Sōtō Zen Buddhist sect, where trainee monks practice traditional alms-seeking exercises through city streets during winter. This practice remains visible to residents and visitors who encounter them on their daily rounds.

The temple is located on Yamanechō Street in Niihama and welcomes both visitors and practitioners. Comfortable footwear is recommended since the grounds include paths across raked gravel courtyards and between various buildings.

A ginkgo tree over 800 years old grows within the temple grounds, attracting visitors especially during its autumn color change. The compound also houses a rotating cabinet specifically designed for preserving Buddhist sutras, a feature that sets it apart from many other temples in the region.