Sōzen-ji

Sozenji is an ancient Rinzai Zen temple located in Kawauchi-cho, Kiryu City, Gunma. Known formally as Banshozan Sozenji, its founding is traditionally dated to the first year of Genkou (1321) during the Kamakura period. The principal image enshrined in the main hall is Amida Nyorai (Amitabha). The temple grounds are designated as a green space preservation area by Gunma Prefecture, and the Ito-hiba cypress on the grounds is a prefectural natural monument. The temple is well known for its autumn foliage, and attracts many visitors during the seven-herb rice porridge ceremony in January and the Touka ceremony in November.