What this area is like
Founded in 1244 by Dogen, Eihei-ji is a head temple of the Soto school. Visitors walk the corridors linking halls in a cedar forest while monks train.
Plan your visit
Keep quiet and follow photography rules; Zen meditation stays are available by reservation.
Choose your next step
Places to see in this area
Eiheiji Temple
Head temple of Soto Zen, founded in 1244, where monks still train among cedar-shrouded halls linked by covered corridors.
- Access
- From Echizen Railway Eiheiji-guchi Station, bus to Eiheiji, then about 5 minutes on foot; direct buses also run from Fukui Station.
- Hours
- 8:30–16:30 (last entry 16:00). Open daily; some areas close at short notice for ceremonies.
- Fee
- Adults ¥700; elementary and junior high ¥300.
- Address
- 5-15 Shihi, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida District, Fukui
You take off your shoes at the entrance and carry them in a bag. Zazen and temple stays can be booked separately.
How to plan your time here
- Fukui is about 3 hours from Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen, or 1 hour 45 minutes from Osaka by Thunderbird and Shinkansen via Tsuruga.
- Pair Eiheiji with the Dinosaur Museum in Katsuyama or Tojinbo on the coast.
Information checked 26 October 2026. Plans are JapaLens editorial suggestions, not on-site reviews. Hours and fees can change; check the official page before you go.