Hōkoku-ji

Hokoku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Saijo with a main hall housing a Buddha statue alongside buildings for meditation and tea ceremonies. The complex extends across multiple areas with gardens and is surrounded by dense bamboo forest that covers several hectares of the grounds.

The temple was founded in 1334 by priest Tengan Eko and is connected to Ashikaga Ietoki, an important family member linked to those who would later rule the shogunate. Its founding occurred during a time of political change and made the temple a spiritual center in the region.

The temple belongs to the Rinzai Zen Buddhism school and offers visitors traditional matcha tea ceremonies where you can experience the ritual preparation of green tea yourself. These ceremonies take place in quiet rooms and allow guests to participate in the temple's daily spiritual practices.

The temple is typically open from morning to early afternoon and visitors can explore the grounds at their own pace. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes since you will spend considerable time walking through bamboo forest and various pathways.

The grounds are surrounded by thousands of moso bamboo plants that form natural pathways through the forest, creating a rare forest experience in Japan. This bamboo woodland is so dense and mature that it hosts many local animal and plant species that are otherwise rarely found in the immediate vicinity.