Fukuzen-ji, Buddhist temple in Tomo-machi, Japan
Fukuzen-ji is a Buddhist temple in the old town of Onomichi overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. The reception hall with tatami mats and a nearby pagoda on Bentenjima island form the most notable structures of this complex.
The temple was founded in 950 during the Heian period by monk Kūya. The reception hall was built later in the 1650s during the Edo period.
The temple served as a guest house for Korean envoys and hosted exchanges between Japanese and Korean medical scholars. Visitors can still see the spaces where these important meetings took place.
The temple is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM year-round and features an old telescope for viewing marine activities. The waterfront location makes it pleasant to visit in any season, though bringing a hat is wise on sunny days.
A Korean envoy named Lee Bang Eun visited in 1711 and inscribed the title 'Taichōrō' on the reception hall. This inscription is a rare reminder of diplomatic ties between Japan and Korea from that era.
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