This temple, erected by the eminent 14th-century priest Ryonyo, is one of the most venerable temples of the Jodo Sect of Buddhism. The shoin reception room was built with a contribution from the lord of Fukui Castle, Yuki Hideyasu, the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The 4,620-square-meter shoin garden is nationally designated as a Site of Scenic Beauty.This shoin garden is said to show the land of perfect bliss, represented in this world, and the young greenery and fall colors illuminated by the early morning sun are especially otherworldly. One of Saifukuji Temple’s distinguishing features is the many cultural properties found here, including some transferred here from the capital during the Onin War, and a number of these items are considered Important Cultural Properties. The garden, though beautiful through all four seasons in different ways, reaches its peak in mid-November with the stunning fall colors.

The Two Itajii Trees
Ryonyo, the founder of the temple, is said to have planted these himself as a provision against famine. They stand on opposite sides of the stone stairs up to the goeido (the hall with founder’s image), the male tree on the right and the female tree on the left. The trees have grown old, large, and strong, and the female tree bears plenty of nuts each year.

Yellow Cherry Blossoms
These yellow cherry blossoms were a donation from Matsudaira Tadanao (the second lord of the Fukui domain). The originals were said to have been transplanted from within the grounds of Fukui Castle, and the ones today are said to be the third generation. They bloom every year with pale greenish-yellow double-flowered blossoms.