Shōfuku-ji Temple

What it is

• A Soto Zen temple formed in 1961 by merging two older local temples
• The temple enshrines the deities Yakushi Nyorai and Sho-kanzeon Bosatsu
• It serves as a designated station on the Chubu 49 Yakushi Pilgrimage
• The original founding dates of the merged temples trace back to 1613 and 1639

What to see

• The main hall and a traditional bell tower located on the temple grounds
• A collection of 600 volumes of the Great Wisdom Sutra kept on site
• The temple gate marking the entrance to the Togakusan mountain grounds

When to go

• March 24 for the annual Daihannya-e ceremony
• July 24 to witness the Mizuko Jizo Festival
• August 10 for the Dai-segaki-e ceremony

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.