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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Eiheiji
永平寺
Spend a half‑day at Eiheiji Temple; add a night if you join a meditation program or want quiet lodging.
Eiheiji is a small mountain town in Fukui Prefecture, best known for the historic Eiheiji Zen temple. The temple can be toured in a few hours; a full meditation stay needs two to three days, so most visitors stay one night.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 永平寺
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- check
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
Get in
By air
- KMQ · Komatsu Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Fukui Station → Eiheiji (Keifuku bus)
- about ¥720, 30 min (check)
- JR to Eiheiji‑Guchi + bus
- about ¥850 total, 40 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Take the Keifuku Eiheiji Liner bus from Fukui Station (≈30 min, ¥750 — check) or JR train to Eiheiji‑Guchi (≈25 min, ¥440) plus a local bus (≈15 min, ¥410). Walk within town.
See and do
Known for
- Eiheiji Temple
- Zen meditation programs
- Mount Johoji hiking
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fukui | Keifuku Eiheiji Liner bus, about 30 min | About 1 h |
| Katsuyama | Bus to Fukui, then train to Katsuyama, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
| Echizen | Bus to Fukui, then train to Echizen, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Ono | Bus to Fukui, then train to Ono, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Daihonzan Eiheiji Monastery
- Temple lodging; ¥8,000 per night, ¥3,000 if in a meditation program
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| Where is the bus stop? | バス停はどこですか？basu tei wa doko desu ka |
| How much is this? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I take photos? | 写真を撮ってもいいですか？shashin o totte mo ii desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Silence is required on temple grounds; photos of priests are prohibited.
- Meditation programs need advance permission (fax) and prior experience; apply at least a month ahead.
- Bus stops have similar names; confirm "Eiheiji" with driver.
Eiheiji is very safe; respect temple rules and keep to quiet conduct.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Eiheiji yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Eiheiji Temple
- Zen meditation programs
- Mount Johoji hiking
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Eiheiji town official site: www.eiheiji.jp/en/
- Wikidata – Eiheiji: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Eiheiji, revision 4839418 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4839418
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/eiheiji). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.