Sojiji Temple was originally founded in 1321 and was the head temple of the Soto sect. Back then it received imperial support from Emperor Go Daigo. At the highest point of power, it oversaw over 16,000 temples across Japan. A great fire in 1898 destroyed much of the temples function to the point that the title of head temple was transferred to the Sojiji Temple in Yokohama. Few of the buildings survived the fire and the rest were rebuilt. When visitors enter the temple grounds they first pass by the Kyozo, a repository for Buddhist scripture. Then following the path that crosses the Hakuji Bridge will lead to the temple’s Sanmon Gate. The gate is about 17 meters tall and dates back to 1932. Once passed the gate you will be in the main area where the buildings surround an inner courtyard with a small pond and garden. There you can find the main hall and meditation hall that were built in the early 20th century. Inside another building is a statue of the temple’s founder and is used as the main object of worship.
