Saijō-ji, Buddhist temple in Minamiashigara, Japan
Saijō-ji is a Zen temple in Minamiashigara, Japan, whose grounds stretch along a 3-kilometer (1.9-mile) path lined with 500-year-old cedar trees. The trail leads from the Niomon Gate to the main buildings, connecting several smaller shrines and altars.
The complex was founded in 1394 and ranks third among Sōtō Zen temples after Eiheiji and Sōjiji. Over the centuries, monks and patrons expanded the grounds and planted the cedar trees visible today.
The site takes its name from a monk who, according to legend, became a mountain spirit after finishing the construction. Visitors leave wooden sandals as offerings, a gesture tied to this old story.
The grounds offer free parking for 250 vehicles and sit 10 minutes on foot from the last stop of the Doryo-son bus line. The long forest path is easiest to walk in dry weather with solid footwear.
The cedars along the path are over five centuries old and form a natural tunnel with tall trunks. In many spots, hundreds of wooden sandals hang from branches and railings.
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