Why does this spot get the number 1 place on the map? Well, the number simply reflects the order in which I visited the temples. This was the very first place where I experienced meditation. Yes, my entire Zen journey started here.

They have a main temple and a branch temple. The main temple is huge and a bit far from the station, which I haven’t visited yet. We do zazen in the meditation hall of the branch temple.

Inside the hall, there is a sitting area called a “tan” for about ten people. Usually, there are around eight participants, including the chief priest and assistant priest. It’s a very small space, but it feels intimate. During meditation in the dimly lit, cozy zendo, you can sense the calmness of an early morning in a residential area—the call of crows, raindrops on the roof, and the sound of shovels clearing snow in winter.

After meditation, we recite the Heart Sutra, the most popular sutra in Japan. Speaking it out from the stomach is an important practice: organizing the body, feeling the air as it moves in and out, and catching the rhythm of the sentences. Focus on the energy the sutra carries. I also love its meaning. If you’re interested in Buddhism or Zen, I highly recommend learning it—it’s deep and profoundly meaningful.

And you can enjoy some seriously good coffee. They serve it hot in winter and cold in summer. The iced coffee even has coffee-made ice cubes. What hospitality.

But the most lovable thing about this place is the personality of the chief priest. You can hear Zen lessons at many temples, but his talks are deeply rooted in his own life. He shares personal experiences through the lens of Zen, rather than giving only formal lessons. That’s a big difference. I truly learned a lot from him.

Why are his talks so meaningful? I guess it’s because of his unique background. Usually, monks inherit temples in one of two ways: either they are born into the temple family, or they marry in as an adopted son-in-law. But the chief priest of Kōshin-ji built this temple from scratch! What an incredible achievement. He is not only a priest but also an entrepreneur.

If you like a small, cozy community, this is the best place. It’s a bit challenging to come at 6:00 AM, since there’s no public transportation at that time. But I believe nothing compares to sitting in a temple at 6:00 AM.