Tennei-ji

Tennei-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple featuring a three-story tower that rises naturally against the hillside with traditional Japanese architectural forms. The complex houses meditation spaces and the Rakan-do building, which displays hundreds of Arhat statues arranged on stepped shelves.

The temple was established in 1819 when Sotoku-ji was relocated from near Hikone Castle to this site. The move occurred during a period when Zen Buddhism was expanding throughout Japan.

The temple serves as an active center for Zen meditation where visitors can observe the daily practice of Soto Buddhism unfolding. The spaces reflect the simple aesthetic of Zen tradition, where emptiness and restraint shape how people engage with the environment.

Zazen sessions require reservations made at least two days ahead by contacting the temple office directly. Visitors should come dressed appropriately and allow enough time to settle into the meditative practice.

The Rakan-do building holds five hundred Arhat statues carved by ten different artists over five years, arranged in a striking display on stepped shelves. This collection represents a rare and labor-intensive artistic exploration of the Arhats within Japanese Zen culture.