Kagaku-ji

Kagaku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nishio featuring traditional Japanese architecture with a main hall and stone-carved Buddhist statues throughout its grounds. The site houses several historical religious artworks, including a large bronze bell and a medieval statue.

The temple was founded in 1271 and became connected to Zen Buddhism, which was expanding in Japan during that period. Its ties to early Zen teachers helped establish it as an important religious center in the region.

The temple reflects Zen Buddhist principles through its architecture and garden design that visitors encounter today. Walking through the grounds, you can observe how these religious teachings are expressed in the arrangement of spaces and statues.

The temple is most easily reached by walking from central Nishio by following local streets. The grounds are open and straightforward to navigate, allowing visitors enough time to explore the various areas and statues.

Priests at the temple played a role in introducing tea cultivation to the Nishio region, creating a lasting connection between religious practice and local agriculture. This link between the temple and the surrounding area remains visible today.