Naka-in Temple

Naka-in Temple

Naka-in is a temple built in 830 A.D. by Jikaku Daishi, who learned under Saicho, who is widely known in Japan as Dengyo Daishi.
Its precincts have beautiful nature in each season, such as cherry blossoms in spring and red and gold foliage in autumn. The temple is especially well known for the weeping cherry tree in front of the main hall.
Naka-in is also famous as the place of origin of Kawagoe tea and Sayama tea. A stone monument describing this stands on the temple’s precincts.
Furthermore, Naka-in is known in association with Shimazaki Tōson, who was a poet and novelist active from Meiji era (1868-1912) to Showa era (1926–1989).
On the temple’s precincts is a tea room named Fusen-tei, which Toson dedicated to his mother. People who love tea ceremony still use and preserve this tea room today.