Soji-ji Temple is one of the two main temples of the Soto Buddhism located in Tsurumi Ward of Yokohama and it is ten minutes' walk from JR-Tsurumi Station.Another main temple is Eihei-ji Temple in Fukui Prefecture founded by Dogen. It is the 100th anniversary since this temple moved from Ishikawa Prefecture. 
This is the outer gate called Sanshokan. Sansho means three pine trees; there were three dragon-shaped pine trees in Ishikawa's precinct.
Today's guest is a Britsh educator who is familiar with temples and shrines in Kyoto and Kamakura. His name is Johnny Buckle.
This is Sanmon, the main gate. It was constructed in 1969 and is the largest concrete-made gate in Japan donated by Mr. Kihara who was an owner of an afforestation company. Further it houses two guardian deities on each side of the gate which were modeled on the former grand champion sumo wresler Kitanoumi.
Mukai Karamon, the central gate was constructed in 1925. As you can see there are enblems of the Imperial Family of Japan, chrysanthemum. When Keizan was the fourth chief zen priest, Emperor Godaigo(1288-1339) promoted this temple to one of the national temples.
Taihokan is a guest house. The original guest house was destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 leaving only the entrance intact. The current guest house was relocated in 1957 from Sendagaya in Tokyo which was used by Owari-Tokugawa family.
Shiuntai is a head abbot's official chamber erected in 1915.
Shiuntai literally means 'Purple Cloud Chamber' with three Chinese characters written by Heihachiro Togo, the Admiral of the Meiji Era. 
Pictures on the sliding doors were painted by the artists of Kano Group between 1912-1925.
Daisodo is the great hall of the founders which was built in 1966. This is the main assembly hall for semons and rituals. It is 36 meters high and a thousand tatami mats fill up the vast hall.
A kannon statue was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary in the precinct. 
This is Butsuden, 'Buddha Hall.' An English tour guide Mitsutoshi is smiling in front of the hall.
In Buddha Hall there is a statue of Buddha flanked by two statues of his foremost diciples. The floor of Buddha Hall was so beautiful and pure that a female poet Akiko Yosano(1878-1942) couldn't step on it although she was exceptionally permitted. She composed a poem expressing her feeling(below). 
Daikoku Soten in Koshakudai. Daikoku was a guardian deity and later became associated with the kitchen. Daikoku is known as a bringer of good fortune and fertility.This wooden statue is the tallest in Japan with the height of 180 cm.
Koshakudai is the formal entrance to the monastery built in 1920. We entered this buiding and a young priest guided us in the buildings. Most of the buildings are connected by a long corridor and an underpass. 
Unsui Gunzou , Statue of Trainee Monks, was built in 1974. The sculptor's name is Torao Yazaki. The same statue stands in 'Bois de Vincennes' of Paris France which was built in 1973. To commemorate the 650th anniversary of the foundation of Soji-ji Temple 'Unsui-geki play' was performed by Mitsugoro Bando at Kabuki Theater in Tokyo.
Sakuragi Kannon was built to mourn the death of 103 people in a railway accident at Sakuragicho Station in 1951. At the corner of a large parking lot there is another monument of Tsurumi accident which killed 160 people in 1963.
Anaguma Inari is a fox-like deity who protects crpos especiall rice from harm. 
A monument of Basho, Matsuo; a famous haiku poet in the first half of the Edo Period. 
A monument of Liberal Party of Japan
Sanpoden Shrine which is a tutulary god of Soji-ji Temple. 
Yuu-chan's grave →(this way); Yuu-chan is a nickname of Yuujiro Ishihara 
Yuujiro Ishihara was the most popular actor after World War Ⅱ. He was buried in the cemetary of Soji-ji Temple after his death at 52. Shintaro Ishihara who is the governor of Tokyo is Yuujiro's elder brother.
After this we went to Kawasaki Daishi
RE
1. Dogen zen priest(1200-1259) went to China in 1223 and learned Soto-Buddhism there until he returned to Japan in 1228. In 1244 Dogen founded a temple 'Daibutsu-ji' in Fukui and renamed it to Eihei-ji Temple in 1246.
2. Keizan zen priest(1268-1325) was influenced by his pious mother and learned Buddhism since childhood at Eihei-ji Temple. Keizan traveled all around Japan and visited Soto and Rinzai temples. In 1321 Keizan was invited to Shogen-kannondo in Ishikawa Prefecture as its head priest. He named it as Soji-ji Temple. This is the beginning of Soji-ji Temple.
3. In 1322 Emperor Godaigo promoted Soji-ji Temple to one of the national temples.
4. On April 13, 1898 Soji-ji Temple caught fire and lost many structures.
5. On November 5, 1911 Soji-ji Temple moved to the current site.
6. Soji-ji means a main temple which has all types of teachings of Buddhism.
7. Akiko Yosano's poem:
'With beating heart
I take hesitant steps
On the floor clearer than ice
of the Great Treasure Hall'
This is the outer gate called Sanshokan. Sansho means three pine trees; there were three dragon-shaped pine trees in Ishikawa's precinct.Today's guest is a Britsh educator who is familiar with temples and shrines in Kyoto and Kamakura. His name is Johnny Buckle.
This is Sanmon, the main gate. It was constructed in 1969 and is the largest concrete-made gate in Japan donated by Mr. Kihara who was an owner of an afforestation company. Further it houses two guardian deities on each side of the gate which were modeled on the former grand champion sumo wresler Kitanoumi.Mukai Karamon, the central gate was constructed in 1925. As you can see there are enblems of the Imperial Family of Japan, chrysanthemum. When Keizan was the fourth chief zen priest, Emperor Godaigo(1288-1339) promoted this temple to one of the national temples.Taihokan is a guest house. The original guest house was destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 leaving only the entrance intact. The current guest house was relocated in 1957 from Sendagaya in Tokyo which was used by Owari-Tokugawa family.Shiuntai is a head abbot's official chamber erected in 1915.Shiuntai literally means 'Purple Cloud Chamber' with three Chinese characters written by Heihachiro Togo, the Admiral of the Meiji Era. Pictures on the sliding doors were painted by the artists of Kano Group between 1912-1925.Daisodo is the great hall of the founders which was built in 1966. This is the main assembly hall for semons and rituals. It is 36 meters high and a thousand tatami mats fill up the vast hall.A kannon statue was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary in the precinct. This is Butsuden, 'Buddha Hall.' An English tour guide Mitsutoshi is smiling in front of the hall.In Buddha Hall there is a statue of Buddha flanked by two statues of his foremost diciples. The floor of Buddha Hall was so beautiful and pure that a female poet Akiko Yosano(1878-1942) couldn't step on it although she was exceptionally permitted. She composed a poem expressing her feeling(below). Daikoku Soten in Koshakudai. Daikoku was a guardian deity and later became associated with the kitchen. Daikoku is known as a bringer of good fortune and fertility.This wooden statue is the tallest in Japan with the height of 180 cm.Koshakudai is the formal entrance to the monastery built in 1920. We entered this buiding and a young priest guided us in the buildings. Most of the buildings are connected by a long corridor and an underpass. Unsui Gunzou , Statue of Trainee Monks, was built in 1974. The sculptor's name is Torao Yazaki. The same statue stands in 'Bois de Vincennes' of Paris France which was built in 1973. To commemorate the 650th anniversary of the foundation of Soji-ji Temple 'Unsui-geki play' was performed by Mitsugoro Bando at Kabuki Theater in Tokyo.Sakuragi Kannon was built to mourn the death of 103 people in a railway accident at Sakuragicho Station in 1951. At the corner of a large parking lot there is another monument of Tsurumi accident which killed 160 people in 1963.Anaguma Inari is a fox-like deity who protects crpos especiall rice from harm. A monument of Basho, Matsuo; a famous haiku poet in the first half of the Edo Period. A monument of Liberal Party of JapanSanpoden Shrine which is a tutulary god of Soji-ji Temple. Yuu-chan's grave →(this way); Yuu-chan is a nickname of Yuujiro Ishihara Yuujiro Ishihara was the most popular actor after World War Ⅱ. He was buried in the cemetary of Soji-ji Temple after his death at 52. Shintaro Ishihara who is the governor of Tokyo is Yuujiro's elder brother.After this we went to Kawasaki Daishi
RE
1. Dogen zen priest(1200-1259) went to China in 1223 and learned Soto-Buddhism there until he returned to Japan in 1228. In 1244 Dogen founded a temple 'Daibutsu-ji' in Fukui and renamed it to Eihei-ji Temple in 1246.
2. Keizan zen priest(1268-1325) was influenced by his pious mother and learned Buddhism since childhood at Eihei-ji Temple. Keizan traveled all around Japan and visited Soto and Rinzai temples. In 1321 Keizan was invited to Shogen-kannondo in Ishikawa Prefecture as its head priest. He named it as Soji-ji Temple. This is the beginning of Soji-ji Temple.
3. In 1322 Emperor Godaigo promoted Soji-ji Temple to one of the national temples.
4. On April 13, 1898 Soji-ji Temple caught fire and lost many structures.
5. On November 5, 1911 Soji-ji Temple moved to the current site.
6. Soji-ji means a main temple which has all types of teachings of Buddhism.
7. Akiko Yosano's poem:
'With beating heart
I take hesitant steps
On the floor clearer than ice
of the Great Treasure Hall'
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