Chouzenji Temple

The Forbidden Fruit

Chouzenji is a Buddhist temple about 10 minutes on foot from Kashiwa station. Going early in the morning provides a very calm and relaxing atmosphere, with the lovely aroma of incense sticks mixed with the fresh smell of many plants. The temple grounds hold a huge Buddhist memorial park with many stone graves, surely beautiful, but maybe not appropriate to stroll around in. Even though this provides some hidden fascination, it’s better to focus on different parts of this charming temple. At Chouzenji, culture and nature are perfectly combined. All the trees and bushes look like big bonsai, with their well-maintained sizes and forms. The middle of the temple grounds is home to a gigantic beech tree, inviting you to sit down in its shadow and take some time off. The many buildings of the temple encourage you to explore. But behave! Two big Nio (仁王), temple guardian statues, with their frightening faces, fiercely protect the area.