Zenshoji Temple Gifu

Zenshoji Temple Gifu 禅昌寺,下呂温泉, 岐阜県

Visitors to Gero Onsen in Gifu Prefecture, should try to visit Zenshoji Temple (禅昌寺), a Rinzai-sect Buddhist temple, just one stop north on the JR Takayama Line from Gero Station.

Zenshoji, Gifu Prefecture

Happo Nirami Daruma

Zenshoji Temple has on display a famous ink painting known as Happo Nirami Daruma by the artist and garden designer Sesshu (1420-1506). The painting (below) shows the mysterious Indian Buddhist monk, known as Bodhidharma, who lived during the 5th and 6th centuries, traveling widely in China and south east Asia. Bodhidharma is credited as the founder and inspiration of Zen Buddhism and a number of miraculous tales grew up surrounding him.

Zen painting at Zenshoji Temple, near Gero Onsen, Gifu

Garden

Behind the main hall of Zenshoji Temple is a garden built up into the hillside, full of beautifully tendered bushes, stone lanterns (toro) and water purification basins (tsukubai). To the left as you enter the main grounds of Zenshoji is a huge 1000-year-old cedar tree.

Garden at Zenshoji Temple Gifu

Access - Getting There

Gero Onsen is easily accessible by train or highway bus from Nagoya. There is also a direct highway bus to Shinjuku in Tokyo. Route 41 leads to Gero directly north from Nagoya city, if coming by car. The Hichiso Precambrian Museum is on the way. From Gero the temple is less than 10 minutes by car. Zenshoji Temple Hagiwara-cho, Churo, 1089 Tel: 0576 52 1353 Admission: 300 yen Exterior of the temple

Keywords Japan Gero Onsen Gifu Prefecture Nagoya Zenshoji Temple spa Autumn leaves Bell tower Stepping stones over moss