Shōtoku-ji, Buddhist temple in Yagoto, Nagoya, Japan
Shōtoku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nagoya with multiple wooden structures and a five-storey pagoda built in 1808 situated on its grounds. The complex features traditional temple architecture with carefully arranged spaces and gardens.
The temple was founded in 1688 by Buddhist priest Tenzui Ensho and gained strong backing from the Tokugawa clan in subsequent decades. This early patronage by a powerful family shaped the temple's development and standing over the generations.
The temple belongs to the Shingon school of Buddhism and serves as a station on the Owari Thirty-three Kannon pilgrimage route that draws local devotees. Visitors walk through spaces where pilgrims have traveled for generations seeking spiritual connection.
The temple is easily reached from Yagoto Station and welcomes visitors to participate in cultural activities on the grounds. Tea ceremonies and sutra transcription require advance booking, so plan ahead if you want to join these experiences.
The temple houses Japan's largest wooden drum, carved from a camphor tree that had grown for more than a century. Visitors touch it to release negative energy according to local practice.
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