Kaikō-ji, Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Japan.
Kaikō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku featuring traditional Japanese wooden architecture with a main hall and several meditation spaces arranged throughout the grounds. Carefully maintained gardens frame the buildings and create spaces for quiet contemplation.
Founded in 1228 during the Kamakura period, this temple became an important center for Buddhist practice and monastic training in eastern Kyoto. It maintained its significance as a spiritual site throughout the following centuries.
As one of the Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Kyoto, this temple preserves two rare examples of sokushinbutsu, self-mummified Buddhist monks whose practice reflects a profound spiritual commitment that visitors can witness firsthand.
The site requires walking on foot, with some paths involving steps and uneven ground, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Morning visits on weekdays tend to be quieter and offer a more peaceful experience.
The temple preserves the remains of two monks who practiced sokushinbutsu, an extreme form of asceticism where they entered underground meditation cells and remained there until their natural death. This rare practice reflects the depth of spiritual dedication that took place within these walls.
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