Chubu Wide-area Tourism Portal Site -- Travel to Ten Thrilling Scenic Sites This showcases sightseeing destinations in Japan's Chubu region (the prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, and Shiga).

Fukui Prefecture Fukui Sakai Area

Daihonzan Eiheiji is a dojo (training hall) for those who aim to be Zen priests. It was founded by Dogen almost 750 years ago, in the year 1244. It is located in the Daibutsuji mountain area, which is about 16 kilometers east-south of Fukui city. The dojo consists of about 70 buildings, both large and small. They center around the seven temple halls in Keisei Shanshoku (sounds of valley streams and colors of the mountains). The precinct of the temple is about 330,000 square meters, and its quiet atmosphere is surrounded by old pine trees that are said to be 680 years old. This is an appropriate spiritual area for training to become a Zen preist.