Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Zenpuku-ji Temple

 

     According to the Settsu Meisho Zue, or the Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in Settsu Province, which was first published in 1796, Zenpuku-ji Temple was founded by Gyoki (668-749) and revived by Ninsai.  In 1331, the temple was transferred to Caodong Chan Sect.  The temple is said to have run a kind of a public bathhouse called Ichinoyu.  Zuikei Shuho (1392-1473) wrote that he visited Zenpuku-ji Temple to take a hot spring cure on April 24th, 1452, in his diary Gaun Nikken-roku.  He learned from the temple's monks that Emperor Karu (596-654) had his temporary palace on the mountain opposite.

     During the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1603), Zenpuku-ji Temple was appointed the magistrate of Arima Hotsprings.  Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) held a grand tea ceremony in the temple, and the annual tea offering ceremony, the Arima Grand Tea Ceremony, is held even today.

Address: 1645 Arimacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1401

Phone: 078-904-0127