Obaku-san Manpuku-ji is the head temple of the Obaku sect of Zen Buddhism. In 2024, three of its buildings, including the main hall, were designated as National Treasures.
This temple was founded in 1661 by Ingen Ryuki (Yinyuan Longqi), a Chinese Zen Buddhist priest who came to Japan in 1654.
He introduced not only Zen Buddhism but also many things and cultural elements to Japan, such as ingen (common beans) and lotus roots.
One of them, Fucha Ryori (Chinese Buddhist cuisine), can actually be enjoyed at the temple (reservations required). It is characterized by its diverse offerings, with some artfully mimicking other foods, like one that resembles eel. It is fun to experience Chinese culture through food.
Also, the Chinese-style sutra chanting called Bonbai sounds like a song.
The precincts, with their historic buildings, are filled with a Chinese atmosphere. Other impressive sights include the Kaipan (wooden fish board), said to be the original form of mokugyo (a percussion instrument used to keep rhythm during sutra chanting), the golden statue of a deity Hotei Son (Budai), and the statue of Ragora Sonja (Rahula), from whose chest the face of Buddha emerges.
- Tel
- 0774-32-3900
- Address
- 34 Gokasho Sanbanwari, Uji City, Kyoto
- Access
- Train: about 5 min. on foot, from Obaku Station (JR Nara Line) or Obaku Station (Keihan Uji Line)
Car: from Shiga, about 5 min. from the Uji-higashi Interchange (Keiji By-pass) / from Osaka, about 10 min. from the Uji-nishi Interchange (Keiji By-pass) - Business Hours
- 9:00am - 5:00pm (Reception is open until 4:30pm)
Fucha Ryori (reservations required): 11:30am - 2:30pm (Please enter by 1:00pm.)
Irregular closing days - Parking
- Available (fee required)
