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Usitour
Church & Religious Site

Sōji-ji

📍 2-1-1 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan
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4.1/ 5.0
★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location
Japan, Yokohama
Category
Church & Religious Site
Duration
About 1 hour
Address
2-1-1 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan
Coordinates
35.5068, 139.6701

Introduction

Soji-ji (Shogaku-zan) in Tsurumi, Yokohama, is one of the two head temples of the Soto Zen school along with Eiheiji. Founded by Zen master Keizan Jokin in Noto in 1321, it was relocated to Yokohama in 1911 after a 1898 fire. Its 1915 Buddha hall, the 1969 sanmon gate (Japan's largest reinforced-concrete gate) and the 1965 Soji-do with its thousand tatami mats are imposing; the 164-m 'Hyakken corridor' is wiped with cloths daily as ascetic practice. The grounds are open to all - a centre of faith in Yokohama.

✨ Highlights

1
Soto head temple
One of the two head temples with Eiheiji.
2
Founded 1321
By Keizan Jokin in Noto; moved here 1911.
3
Soji-do
Completed 1965 with 1,000 tatami mats.
4
Sanmon gate
Built 1969; Japan's largest concrete gate.
5
Hyakken corridor
A 164-m passage wiped daily as practice.
6
Zazen sessions
Monthly English session, 500 yen, no booking.

🛈 Practical Info

→Location：2-1-1 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama
→Time needed：About 1 hour
→Tel：+81 45-581-6021
→Treasury：Teitei-an 300 yen (closed Thu-Fri)

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday9:00-17:00
Tuesday9:00-17:00
Wednesday9:00-17:00
Thursday9:00-17:00
Friday9:00-17:00
Saturday9:00-17:00
Sunday9:00-17:00

Grounds free to enter

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
AdultFree

Hall tours 400 yen; treasury Teitei-an 300 yen

Transportation

train

5-min walk from JR Tsurumi Station (west exit)

Driving/Parking

Free parking for 100 cars on the grounds

Note

Or 10 min from Keikyu Tsurumi Station

💡 Tips

• Five minutes on foot from JR Tsurumi Station west exit.
• Grounds are free to roam; halls open by guided tour only.
• Tours depart 10:00/11:00/13:00/14:00/15:00, about 1 hour.
• New Year brings huge crowds - visit off-peak.
• Monthly English zazen is 500 yen including a temple tour.
• Group tours need booking 2 weeks ahead (10+ people).

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Sōji-ji?

Monday: 9:00-17:00; Tuesday: 9:00-17:00; Wednesday: 9:00-17:00; Thursday: 9:00-17:00; Friday: 9:00-17:00; Saturday: 9:00-17:00; Sunday: 9:00-17:00; Grounds free to enter

How much is the admission for Sōji-ji?

Adult: Free; Hall tours 400 yen; treasury Teitei-an 300 yen

Any practical tips for visiting Sōji-ji?

Five minutes on foot from JR Tsurumi Station west exit. Grounds are free to roam; halls open by guided tour only.

How long should I spend at Sōji-ji?

A typical visit takes About 1 hour.

How do I get to Sōji-ji?

train: 5-min walk from JR Tsurumi Station (west exit); Driving/Parking: Free parking for 100 cars on the grounds