Hōon-ji Temple

What it is

• A Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1394 by Nanbu Moriyuki.
• One of the five major temples known as the Morioka Gozan.
• The primary deity enshrined at this location is Shaka Nyorai.
• The temple moved from Sannohe to its current site in 1601.

What to see

• The Rakan-do hall containing five hundred unique Arhat statues.
• A main hall where Narayama Sado committed ritual suicide in 1869.
• The traditional mountain gate marking the entrance to the grounds.
• City-designated cultural properties including the Rakan-do and its statues.

When to go

• Weekly Zen meditation sessions are held every Saturday.

Getting there

• The temple is a five-minute walk from the Kitayama bus stop.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.