Miroku-ji

Miroku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Tōkai featuring multiple buildings, gardens, and stone pathways arranged to guide visitors through the grounds. The complex follows traditional Japanese architectural design with structures positioned to create distinct spaces for different purposes.

This temple was founded during the Edo period as a center for Zen Buddhist practice under the Tokugawa shogunate's influence. It became an established place of religious importance within the region's Buddhist tradition over the centuries that followed.

The name Miroku refers to Maitreya, the Bodhisattva whose statue stands at the heart of worship here. You can observe how the layout and daily practices center around this figure and the teachings associated with it.

The temple grounds are accessible by local bus from central Tōkai with regular service to the area. Wear sturdy shoes as you will encounter many steps and pathways throughout the site.

The grounds contain burial sites of several influential Zen monks and scholars who shaped Japanese Buddhist philosophy. These graves make the site a place of study and reflection for those interested in the historical figures who developed Buddhist thought.