On the 3rd of October 2007, we went to visit Kōshō-ji which is in the mountains in Shiga-ken about 30 minutes from Omi-Imazu.

This little known temple was formerly an estate of Ashikaga Yoshiaki where he stayed after his fall from power. Upon his death (1597) it was turned into a Zen temple. We were shown around the temple by very friendly monk who is the son of the 31st priest of this temple (the priest can marry in this sect). The type of Zen practiced here is an older form which pre-dates the split into the three main schools.

While the current temple buildings were build in the 19th century, the gardens and some of the Buddha images date back to the 14th century. Unlike the famous temples in Japan, this temple had no ticket office or entry fee.