Chōfuku-ji, Buddhist temple in Fukushima-juku, Kiso, Japan.
Chōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple in the historic Fukushima-juku station stop along the Kiso route, featuring traditional Japanese buildings designed in the Muromachi period style. The grounds include meditation halls, wooden walkways, and a main hall constructed according to architectural principles from that era.
The temple was founded in 1430, marking a turning point for the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism in the Kiso region. Over centuries it became a central religious institution that preserved and transmitted the teachings of this school.
The temple serves as a center for daily Zazen meditation, where visitors can observe or join sessions that keep the practices of Myoshinji Rinzai Zen alive. The spaces are arranged to support these contemplative routines and reflect how Buddhism shapes the rhythm of life here.
The temple sits along a well-traveled historic walking route and is accessible on foot from the station. Wear comfortable walking shoes, as access to the grounds involves traditional stone paths and gentle terrain.
The temple remains in its original location along the Nakasendo trail, one of the main road connections during feudal Japan. This means visitors walk the same paths that have been traveled by people for hundreds of years.
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