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| moss-covered Heisenji in Katsuyama, Fukui |
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| to the worshipping hall; behind stands the main hall |
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| moss and criptomeria threes |
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| These two trees are actually one. A branch that drooped down to the ground due to heavy snow got rooted and the new trunk grew from there. |
Some memorable posters at Eiheiji zen temple
Heisenji premises are very large. An excellent local volunteer guide took us around for 2 hours and a half as I asked in advance. We could have spent another hour but should have still missed the excavation site.
My friend and I spent the happiest 2.5 hours. The moss was completely beautiful, green-carpeting the grounds. The history was felt, both glorious and devastating. Not like temples and shrines known to everybody and always crowded with tourists, the temple showed real Japan where indigenous faith named Shinto after Buddhism got to Japan and those introduced from abroad mainly Buddhism found a way to evolve together.
Above all, it is believed that in this place started the worship of Hakusan mountain.
Nearby stands the great zen temple. Well-known as Soto zen sect headquarters and monastery, the temple accepts some 70 young monks in training every year. They come, stay for a few years on average, and then leave. The temple regularly shelters around 150 monks including the trainees. You too can stay there overnight and experience a bit of zen.
But I have to say that my real favorite is Heisen-ji.
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