Since 2006, Shunkoin Temple has been teaching Zen meditation class and Dharma talk in English and providing its temple stay experience. Taka Kawakami provides true understanding of Buddhism and Zen to visitors from all over the world. He focuses not only on the Zen Buddhist tradition in Japan but also on the practical reasons why the certain manners or rituals have been established as the traditi
on by using his religious study and psychological approaches. Thus, people are able to incorporate Zen Buddhist philosophy and meditation into their life style. Also, Shunkoin Temple is the first Buddhist temple in Japan to offer the same-sex wedding service to promote the LGBT rights and the same-sex marriage rights in Japan. Shunkoin Temple is active about the human rights issues in the world, especially Tibetan issues. Shunkoin Temple was originally established as a sub-temple inside of the Myoshinji temple complex in 1590 and belongs to the Rinzai Zen Buddhist tradition. In the early 20th century, Dr. Shinich Hisamatsu, Zen philosopher & the founder of the F.A.S. Society, lived in the temple. Suzuki was the frequent visitor of the temple and discussed with Dr. Hisamatsu about Zen and philosophies here. Suzuki planted three azalea trees in front of the main entrance of Shunkoin Temple.
