Shōfuku-ji, temple in Nagaoka, Niigata
Shōfuku-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple in Nagaoka with traditional wooden buildings and simple garden spaces. The complex includes a main hall and smaller structures where religious ceremonies and community gatherings take place regularly.
The temple was established many years ago as a place of quiet worship and belongs to the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism. During the 1800s, it served as a medical facility during the Boshin War and later housed a school in the early Meiji era before returning to its primary religious role.
The temple serves as a place where visitors can observe Zen Buddhist practices through quiet ceremonies and rituals performed by resident monks. These traditional forms of prayer and meditation have been part of local spiritual life for many generations.
The temple is only about five minutes walk from the east exit of Nagaoka station and easy to reach by foot. Visitors should wear modest clothing and remove their shoes before entering the main halls to show respect for the sacred space.
The temple grounds hold the graves of Udone Danjirō, a local historical figure, and Myōtoku-in, daughter of a feudal lord from the Edo period. A memorial also marks the site's connection to World War II, commemorating victims of the firebombing of Nagaoka in August 1945.
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