A temple alive with real Zen monastic practice Eiheiji, "The Temple of Eternal Peace", is one of the two head  temples of Soto Zen. It is located deep in the mountains, near the  northwest coast of Japan, not far from Fukui City. This temple was  founded by Zen Master Dōgen in 1244. He was offered land and  other help for this by Yoshishige Hatano, a samurai who was one  of his most devoted lay followers. Dōgen thus founded Eiheiji,  where he devoted himself to training his followers in the perfection   of Zen practice in every action of daily life. Dōgen Zenji's authentic Zen has been scrupulously observed and passed down by his successors. Still today, at Eiheiji over one hundred monks devote themselves wholeheartedly to his practice of shikantaza （"single- minded sitting"）. In order to protect our traditional monastic practice and  environment, we ask all visitors to follow our rules.