ABOUT
About this spot
Shofuku-ji is a Rinzai Zen temple of the Myoshinji school in Gokushomachi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka. Founded in 1195 by the monk Eisai, it is regarded as the first full-scale Zen temple in Japan, and the plaque on its gate reads "the first Zen temple in Japan". Although it stands in the middle of Hakata, its grounds are quiet and wooded. Eisai returned from Song China, received land from Minamoto no Yoritomo, and completed the temple in 1204. At its height it had 38 sub-temples, and a temple town grew around it. Fires and wars destroyed the halls, but the temple was rebuilt, and the Zen painter Sengai Gibon later served as its abbot in the Edo period. The grounds hold the main gate, the gourd-shaped Muzen Pond, the bell tower, the Buddha hall and the abbot's quarters. Its grounds were designated a national Historic Site in 1969. The buildings are generally closed inside, so a visit mostly means strolling the grounds. A walk takes about 30 minutes. It is about 3 to 5 minutes on foot from Gion Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Airport Line, and Kushida Shrine is nearby.
Last updated October 22, 2026