Main Hall
It is the place where the Amida Buddha is enshrined, and where memorial services and the other Buddhist services are held. You can hear a 5 minutes Dharma talk from the speaker whenever you like. Please feel free to visit anytime.
Hoenbyo
The grave of Kyogakuji. Past resident ministers, their families, and the temple members of Kyogakuji have been buried in this grave.
Jakujoan
A resting place. The name came from the 13th resident minister, ”Jakujobo Joku”.
Statue of Shinran Shonin
A statue of our founder of Jodo Shinshu, made by Toshiaki Eri in 1982.
Monthly Service
Any members of Kyogakuji can gather for this monthly service on the 1st day of each month. We chant sutras and listen to the Dharma talk of the resident minister together.
Dharma school for children
The school was established in 1915. We welcome any children aged 6 to 12. Our vision is to help the children learn and experience the Buddha Dharma since it may help them navigate the issues of their everyday life. We also have fun together at the temple with lots of activities and there are occasions to learn from seniors who are willing to teach their skills or knowledge.
Dharma school for teenagers
The teenagers join this school which is held during summer holidays and winter holidays. After chanting sutras and listening to the Dharma talk, we have dinner together and play BINGO or cards with snacks.
Youth group
This group is for any youth who has an interest in Buddhism or who wants to have fun at a temple. We gather for services, have several activities such as barbecues, and organize the Dana program (Yoga etc.)
Men’s group
It has been 50 years since this group started by men whose age is around 40s to early 70s. There are 3 regular services a year which normally are chanting sutras and listening to the Dharma talk, then going for a drink together afterwards is one of the fun parts. Besides that, the assistance with every annual service and event is really helpful and thankful.
Women’s group
First organized in 1907 and since then, the members became a central part of the temple. They participate in the annual services and events, assisting the preparation of each service, preparing the meal at special service, cleaning up the temple, and so on. The members gather once a month to chant a sutra, listen to the Dharma talk, and what is most important is to have a chat with everyone.
Senior group
The members both men and women aged 77 and over, belong to this group. Normally, after chanting sutra and listening to the Dharma talk, they exercise “Denden Gymnastics” and they enjoy having a tea together at the end of the meeting.
Morning service
On the first Saturday of each month at 7 am, the members start cleaning up the temple. After chanting the sutra and listening to the Dharma talk, we have breakfast together.
Studying the Scriptures
This is a study class in which we read and learn a sutra or the writings of Shinran Shonin. It was started since there was a request from some members of Kyogakuji.
Cooking Club
In October, there is an important service of Shin Buddhism named “Ho-onko” in our temple. On this service, we have a special meal called “Otoki”. The club members prepare this meal and serve it to all the members who come to this service. In January, they prepare this meal for the children of Dharma school as well.
Kids Sangha Club (Supporting members for the Dharma School for Children)
The members are willing to help the activities in the temple, mostly the programs for kids. For example, planting the sweet potatoes in the field in May and digging them out in November is one of the fun activities which children as well as their parents are absorbed in. They also make lanterns by curving bamboo and placing them around in the temple.
Choir of Buddhist songs “Gathas”
The members of the group gather in the main hall of our temple and practice singing the songs “Gathas” each month. They enjoy performing the songs during the service of “Ho-onko” in Kyogakuji, and sometimes at Tsukiji Hongwanji in Tokyo.
Dana Shop Club
The club members collect any clothes and materials that still can be used and remake them into something useful, and sell it in the corner of the temple permanently. All the returns are sent to the affected area through Japan as a support fund.
A 3-minute Dharma talk
from our Resident Minister
Kyogakuji was established in 1234 in Shimizu Ward,
Shizuoka City by a priest named Koshinbo, one of Shinran Shonin’s disciples, who took refuge in the teaching of our founder Shinran Shonin.
In 1616, Kyogakuji moved to the current location (Tokiwa-cho, Shizuoka City). The owner of the place was Jokei Matsushita, a vassal of Ieyasu Tokugawa. When Ieyasu passed away, Jokei moved to Edo (Tokyo), so ownership of the land was transferred to Kyogakuji.
In the early Meiji period, Eiichi Shibusawa, a Japanese industrialist widely known today as the "father of Japanese capitalism”, lived in Kyogakuji with his family for a few months (it is said that Eiichi was so busy that he himself spent only 3 weeks here). The daughter of Eiichi mentioned it in her book.
The main hall of our temple has burnt down twice. Once in the Shizuoka Big Fire in 1940, and another during the Second World War. The current main hall was reconstructed in 1974, and recently the ceiling of the hall has been newly designed and formed in April, 2022.
The resident minister of Kyogakuji has changed from the 21st (Hiroshi Nanjo) to the 22nd (Osamu Nanjo) on May 1st, 2022. With all the dedication and effort of the Kyogakuji priests and their families, as well as the Kyogakuji Monto (members) families, the history of the temple has succeeded from generation to generation to this present time.
