Kaizen-ji, Buddhist temple in Matsugaya, Japan
Kaizen-ji is a Buddhist temple in the Matsugaya neighborhood of Tokyo's Taito ward, made up of traditional wooden buildings with sliding doors and tatami floors. The grounds include a main hall for worship and open outdoor areas that connect the different sections of the compound.
The temple was founded in 1624, during the early years of the Edo period, as part of the Myoshin-ji branch of Rinzai Buddhism. It has kept its original religious role ever since, without major breaks or changes in purpose.
Kaizen-ji belongs to the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, known for its disciplined approach to meditation. Visitors can observe monks going about their daily routines and attend ceremonies that still take place regularly on the grounds.
The temple sits in Taito ward and can be reached on foot from several nearby train stations. Anyone entering indoor spaces should remove their shoes at the entrance, as is standard at traditional Japanese religious sites.
The temple offers regular zazen sessions open to visitors with no prior experience, giving direct access to the meditation practice at the heart of Rinzai Buddhism. Very few temples in Tokyo open their meditation hall to the public in this way.
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