Rinsō-in, Buddhist temple in Yaizu, Japan
Rinsō-in is a Zen Buddhist temple located about seven minutes on foot from JR Yaizu Station, featuring meditation halls, gardens, and a training hall that dates back three centuries. The grounds are arranged to support focused practice and monastic training for those who stay overnight.
Established in 1471, this temple became historically significant when its priest Shunryu Suzuki founded the San Francisco Zen Center during the 1960s. That connection helped bring Zen practice to the West and shaped how Buddhism developed in new communities far from Japan.
The temple serves as a living space for Zen Buddhist practice, where daily meditation and ritual study are woven into the rhythm of monastic life. Visitors who come to observe or participate find themselves part of a tradition that values simplicity and focused attention.
Morning meditation sessions run from 6:00 AM to 6:40 AM and visitors can participate if they arrive prepared for early rising and quiet observation. Overnight stays can be arranged in advance for those interested in a deeper experience with the practice.
The current abbot, Hoitsu Suzuki, is the son of Shunryu Suzuki and leads the temple with an approach that blends traditional training with genuine community involvement. This means meditation here is not locked away from the world but woven into everyday shared experience.
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