Manpuku-ji Temple

Manpuku-ji is the head temple of the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism, located in Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. It stands about five minutes on foot from Obaku Station on the Keihan Uji Line and the JR Nara Line. Unlike most Kyoto temples, whose halls follow Japanese traditions, Manpuku-ji was built in the style of late Ming China and has a distinctly foreign atmosphere.

The temple was founded by the Chinese monk Ingen Ryuki, who came to Japan in 1654 and met the fourth shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna, in Edo in 1658. In 1660 the shogunate granted him land in Uji, and the temple was established in 1661. Construction was largely complete around 1679.

The main buildings stand in a symmetrical line from the west: the main gate, the pond, the Sanmon gate, the Tennoden, the Daiho-den and the Hatto. Rare teak wood was used, and details such as the Obaku ceiling and peach-motif doors are unusual in Japan. The Daiho-den, the Hatto and the Tennoden were designated National Treasures in December 2024, and many other buildings are Important Cultural Properties.

Visitors can see the laughing Hotei statue and the eighteen arhat figures. The temple is also known for Fucha cuisine, a Chinese-style vegetarian meal shared from large plates. Allow about 30 minutes to an hour for the visit. Ujigami Shrine and Byodo-in are nearby, so the temple pairs well with a day in Uji.