Overview
Hoon-ji is a temple of the Soto Zen school in Terao-Minami, Ayase City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Standing quietly in a corner of the Sagamino plateau, where homes and farmland blend gently together, it carries on the Zen teaching that reveres seated meditation. Far from a flashy tourist site, its calm, community-rooted grounds suit travelers who wish to step away from daily life and settle into stillness.
Highlights
- ●A Soto Zen temple standing quietly in the fields of Terao-Minami, Ayase
- ●A place of prayer carrying on the seated meditation of master Dogen
- ●The Zen spirit held within the temple name Hoon, to repay gratitude
- ●A calm setting for worship amid the farmland of Sagamino
History
Hoon-ji belongs to the Soto Zen school. Founded by the Zen master Dogen, Soto Zen is known for placing shikantaza, the practice of simply sitting in meditation, at the heart of its training. The temple has been maintained in the district of Terao-Minami in Ayase. As detailed records of its founding date and origins are limited, visitors are encouraged to confirm the particulars through on-site notices or official information.
Access
The temple lies in Terao-Minami, Ayase City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Because Ayase has few railway stations, travelers commonly reach it by bus or taxi from stations such as Ebina, Yamato, or Sagamino. By car, access is via the Ayase Smart Interchange area of the Tomei Expressway. It is best to confirm the nearest route, bus services, and parking availability through official information or a map service before setting out.
Best season
Set among the fields of Sagamino, the temple offers the changing faces of the countryside through the seasons, from the greenery of spring and early summer to the ripening rice of autumn. A walk through the quiet grounds is especially pleasant on a mild spring day or under the clear skies of autumn. Winter brings few visitors and the crisp, dignified air of a Zen temple.
Map
35.4507, 139.4260 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Start from stations such as Ebina or Sagamino and take a bus or taxi to Ayase
- 2Visit Hoon-ji and compose your mind in the stillness of a Zen temple
- 3Stroll slowly through the Terao-Minami hamlet and surrounding fields
- 4Round out the day by exploring Ayase's quiet streets and local spots
Did you know?
💡 Hoon means to repay the debt of gratitude owed to the Buddha and the founding masters, a cherished ideal of Zen, so the very name of the temple holds the Zen spirit. To distinguish it from a temple of the same name nearby, it is sometimes called Hoon-ji (Ayase City); using its location in Terao-Minami as a landmark makes it easier to find.
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