Shofukuji Temple
4.2 (663)
6-1 Gokushomachi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0037, Japan
Featuring a garden with a pond, this temple completed in 1195 is the oldest Zen temple in Japan.
Duration: 00h20min
+81 92-291-0775
outdoor
free
daytime
traditional
temples
Opening hours
Mondays: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesdays: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesdays: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursdays: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fridays: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturdays: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sundays: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
review(s)
663 review(s)
Toktam Taghvai 5 months ago
Such a beautiful temple! The trees were fanominal! The mosquitoes were a pain,if you stood in one place for a few seconds, they'd get you good.
Ben Hsu 8 months ago
Shofukuji Temple is probably the earliest or the oldest Zen Sect Temple in Japan, and it was built in 1195, although its current Sanmon Gate was built in 1911. It worships Triad Buddhas for the Buddha of the Past, of the Present [which is Shakyamuni Buddha], and of the Future as main deities, and for Japanese Zen Buddhism, Three Buddhas are Shaka, Amida, and Miroku. While the Temple seems to be intended to preserve its original building structures, garden, ponds, and others as much as possible, the Temple does show signs of aging and damage in the Temple yard/site, especially for the area around the pond. Temple is free of charge for entrance, though there is NO bathroom or toilet inside the Temple. The Temple is in close walking distance from Tochoji Temple, but the road signs for the Shofukuji Temples are NOT well marked or posted for every major road which can be connected to the Temple.
Ernest T 10 months ago
a large and tranquil temple complex and is believed to be the first Zen temple in Japan. a couple of magnificent wooden temples / buildings around, but all are not open to the public. after visiting the busy Tochoji Temple, we enjoyed the moment of quietness and calmness, and we wandered into the well-maintained garden with shady trees.
ana purna a year ago
it is the oldest zen temple in Japan. we spent quite sometime here because the temple compound was so beautiful and serene. it had a conservative history though, connected to statesmen complicit in the WW II.
CELAB 99 5 years ago
Plenty of harmless lazy but healthy looking cats relaxing on front entrance to the main temple building. Grounds are very nice, spacious and tranquil. Reasonably well kept up and worth a visit. A small pond and bridge for photos. Temple building itself was not accessible but observable from all over the inside grounds. Recommended