Shuzen-ji, Buddhist temple in Shuzenji Onsen, Japan.
Shuzen-ji is a Buddhist temple in Shuzenji Onsen in Shizuoka Prefecture, surrounded by evergreen woods and natural hot springs. The compound includes a main hall with characteristic timber construction, tended gardens, stone lanterns, and a separate treasure house.
The monk Kukai founded the temple in 807 during his travels through the Izu region. The Hojo family later supported the temple during the Kamakura period and strengthened its position as a religious center in the area.
The name of the temple mirrors that of the surrounding hot spring town and links Buddhist tradition with local bathing culture. Visitors today can walk through the grounds and observe how religious space coexists with resort life.
The temple sits in the center of Shuzenji Onsen and can be reached on foot from most hotels in the area. The temple grounds are freely accessible, though the treasure house requires a separate entry ticket.
The basins for ritual purification at the temple use thermal spring water instead of ordinary tap water. This feature connects religious practice with the natural hot springs of the surroundings.
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