Nishiarai Daishi, Buddhist temple in Nishiarai, Japan
Nishiarai Daishi is a Buddhist temple in the Nishiarai neighborhood of northeastern Tokyo that spreads across a large site with multiple prayer halls and educational facilities. The main hall hosts religious ceremonies, while other buildings arrange themselves around maintained courtyards and garden pathways.
The monk Kūkai founded the temple in 826 during his mission to spread esoteric Buddhism across the Kantō region. Over the centuries the site developed into an important center of Sōtō Zen and became integrated into several regional pilgrimage routes.
The name Nishiarai literally means western well field and refers to the temple's early role in the region's water supply. Visitors today see many stone incense burners and wooden prayer stations where worshippers regularly light incense and leave slips with wishes written on them.
From Nishiarai Station signposts lead directly to the temple entrance area, where multilingual boards provide orientation. The entire grounds can be explored on foot, with wide paths and flat surfaces making movement easier.
The position of chief priest alternates every two years with Eiheiji Temple, representing a rare form of shared leadership in Sōtō Zen. This rotating administration links two of Japan's most important Zen sites through an unusual system of joint responsibility.
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