Seiken-ji, Buddhist temple in Shimizu-ku, Japan
Seiken-ji is a Buddhist temple at the base of Mount Gao, featuring a traditional garden designated as a national site of scenic beauty. A prominent stone gate marks the entrance to the grounds.
The temple was founded in the Nara period to guard the Seimi checkpoint. During the Kamakura period, it became a center of Rinzai Zen Buddhism.
The temple holds writings from the first Korean diplomatic mission and ancestral tablets of Tokugawa shoguns, documenting centuries of international relations. These objects show how important this place was for connections between Japan and other cultures.
The grounds are easy to navigate with clear pathways through the gardens and well-marked areas. Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking on varied terrain, including some gravel and stone surfaces.
The temple grounds contain a 400-year-old plum tree called Garyu-bai, which records indicate was grafted by Tokugawa Ieyasu during his stay there. This ancient tree is a living link to the temple's connection with the ruling family.
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