宝珠寺

Overview

Hoju-ji is a temple of the Soto Zen school in Minami-Alps City, Yamanashi Prefecture. This quiet Zen temple stands in the countryside with the peaks of the Southern Alps rising to the west, keeping the flame of the Dharma close to local life. Unadorned and calm, it is a gentle place of prayer for those who wish to settle the mind.

Highlights

• ●A Soto Zen temple in countryside facing the Southern Alps to the west
• ●Unadorned, quiet precincts and main hall
• ●The calm atmosphere of Soto Zen, valuing meditation and daily labor
• ●The Southern Alps ranges that change with the seasons

History

Hoju-ji was established as a Soto Zen temple in Minami-Alps City, carrying on the teachings of Soto Zen, which value seated meditation and daily labor. Only limited records of its founding survive, but one can sense a history of walking alongside local people as a family temple. Please confirm details of its history through official sources.

Map

35.6051, 138.4567 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Drive to Hoju-ji in Minami-Alps City and bow at the mountain gate
2. 2Walk the quiet precincts, pay respects at the main hall, and calm the mind
3. 3Gaze at the peaks of the Southern Alps rising to the west
4. 4Close the visit with a leisurely stroll through the surrounding rural landscape

Did you know?

💡 Minami-Alps City is dotted with temples of the Soto school and others, and Hoju-ji is one of them supporting local faith. Though modest, it offers the stillness distinctive of a rural Zen temple rooted in village life.

Nearby spots