Shōfuku-ji, Buddhist temple in Odawara, Japan
Shōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Odawara, Japan, with several traditional wooden buildings set on a quiet compound. At its center stands a Kannon image said to have come from Tang dynasty China, which serves as the main object of devotion.
The temple was founded during the Nara period by the priest Dōkyō, who brought the sacred Kannon image here for Empress Kōken. The main hall standing today dates to 1706, making it the oldest surviving structure on the grounds.
Shōfuku-ji is the fifth stop on the Bandō Sanjūsankasho, a pilgrimage route that links 33 Buddhist temples across the Kantō region. Visitors today can watch pilgrims arriving with their stamp books, a practice that has continued for centuries.
The temple is within walking distance of Odawara Station, making it easy to reach without a car. Visitors should dress modestly and remove their shoes before stepping inside any of the buildings.
The grounds hold a bronze bell cast in 1629, one of the few surviving metal objects of that age in the area. The bell is still rung during certain ceremonies, so visitors may hear it on the right day.
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