About 5 kilometers northwest of Machida Station, a bustling hub of activity, lies the Soto Zen temple, Tokozan Ryodenji, nestled in a valley surrounded by lush greenery.

Founded in 1629 (Kanei 6), the temple's history began when the Yanada family, a hatamoto (direct retainer of the shogun) who ruled this area, established it as their family temple. Since then, it has served as a spiritual haven for the local people through Sunday Zen meditation sessions and cultural lectures, accumulating a history of approximately 400 years. And now, this place is beginning to take on a new role.

At its core is the philosophy of the previous head priest: "A temple where people are always present." A place where people can drop by without a specific purpose and simply be there. With this aim in mind, we provide a comfortable time for visitors while preserving the rich natural environment.

Avoid creating a central focus. The ever-evolving nature of a restaurant.

In 2023, Yanada-ji Temple opened a restaurant called "Toki to Sora" on its grounds. The space was created by renovating a building called a kori, which was formerly used as a warehouse and residence.

This dining hall is not designed as a place to visit for famous chefs or specific dishes. Its unique operating style is to share the pure joy of unexpectedly encountering delicious food in a temple setting. That style is "not having a central focus."

Chief priest Koryo Saito says, "I make a conscious effort not to create a central figure, so that the personality of any particular person doesn't become too strong. This is to avoid becoming rigid in one form and to keep the space constantly circulating and flowing."

Enjoy the natural beauty of the temple grounds with deeply satisfying vegetarian cuisine.

At the "Toki to Sora" dining hall, they serve "Shojin Curry" on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and a limited "Shojin Gozen" (vegetarian meal) on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The menu changes every month, and a key feature is the generous use of plants gathered from the temple grounds and surrounding area.

For example, the "Early Summer Garden Set Meal" offered in June featured ingredients such as butterbur, bamboo shoots, and Japanese ginger harvested from the temple garden. With just one bite, a rich aroma and deeply flavorful taste spread throughout your mouth.

The meal incorporates various textures, such as chewy fermented brown rice and crispy fried wheat gluten cutlets, allowing you to enjoy a variety of flavors. Although it is vegetarian cuisine, it is very satisfying and leaves both your mind and body feeling completely fulfilled.

An incense-making experience using plants from the temple grounds as raw materials.

At Yanada-ji Temple, you can experience authentic Zen practices such as zazen (seated meditation) and sutra copying. Currently, another popular activity is the "incense making experience," where you can blend your own fragrances.

What makes this experience unique is that figs, shiso leaves, rosemary, and other herbs collected near the temple are used as some of the ingredients for the incense.

The experience begins with a lecture on the basics of incense from a staff member at Yanada-dera Temple. Afterwards, participants choose their preferred ingredients from a variety of powdered raw materials packaged in small bottles and carefully grind them together in a mortar and pestle provided.

Add the appropriate amount of water and mold it. You can take home the original incense stick you've created.

Looking 500 years into the future

Yanada-dera Temple operates with a 500-year vision in mind. The dining hall and various experiential programs are just a part of that long-term plan.

"We already have plans for about eight installments. Developing the habit of frequently breaking down and reassembling what we've started will help us maintain this platform far into the future," says Saito. Even when things are going well now, they don't rest on their laurels but instead proactively make changes. This flexible attitude is what enhances long-term sustainability.

Yanada-dera Temple, surrounded by lush greenery, continues to undergo small but steady changes to ensure it remains a place where locals and travelers alike can easily visit and find solace.

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東向山 簗田寺
電話：042-791-0602
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