Visiting Fukuju-ji, the Obaku-shu temple in Kitakyushu

On May 2, we went to Fukuju-ji (福聚寺), an Obaku Zen temple in Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu. Fukuju-ji, the family temple of the Ogasawara clan was dedicated by Ogasawara Tadazane, the first daimyo of Kokura Domain.

The temple was built in 1665 by Ogasawara Tadazane with support from Sokuhi Nyoitsu, a Chinese monk.

The entrance gate of Fukuju-ji in front of a big parking lot. The other side of the temple gate called Fujimon (不二門) is normally closed, so you have to go from here.

Passing the temple gate, then go straight down the sando road to the main hall.

A temple office just behind the main gate.

Main Hall. The current one was rebuilt in 1802. Most of the temple buildings were burned down by fire in the Summer War of 1866 but not the Buddha Hall see the picture below.

The big orange colored Gyoban, which is located beside the Buddha statue, is a sight to behold in the Obaku-shu temple only.

The drum tower.

Apart from the old one in the above, there is a new bell tower.

The Mausoleum of Ogasawara family looking over the Chumon temple gate.

The Kaisan-do founder's hall on the left is connected to the mausoleum in the corridor. 

After that we went to see the other side of temple gates. This is the Somon at the entrance of a temple.

Going through the Somon gate, then turn right and going to a path for a while. At the end of it, the small Ryuka Kannon-do Hall built in the late 1710s.

We finally came to the Fujimon main gate. The gate is closed so you have to use other side door.