Official Sotoshu training temples (senmon sodo)

Tsugen Narasaki, former head of Zuioji, and Zuiko Redding, who trained with him there and at Shogoji for six years.  (2021)

Soto Zen North America is sometimes asked for a list of official training temples at which novices can meet the training requirements for certification as kyoshi.  In addition to its two main temples, the Soto Zen sect has established specialized training temples (senmon sodo) throughout Japan.  Those interested in enrolling in a senmon sodo for the purposes of credentialling must be officially registered with Sotoshu as novices, and are advised that in practice, some training temples may accept only men due to facility limitations or the availability of instructors.  Please contact your proposed sodo directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information and requirements.

There are no official senmon sodo outside of Japan, though Sotoshu occasionally holds official angos elsewhere that count toward the training requirements for credentialling as kyoshi.  Please contact the Shumucho office that holds your registration for information on upcoming angos.

For men only:

Daihonzan Eiheiji Temple Special Sodo Hall
Honzan Sodo Hall, 5-15 Shihi, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture 910-1294, Japan  0776-63-3102

Daihonzan Sojiji Temple Special Sodo
Honzan Soji 2-1-1 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 230-8686, Japan  045-581-6021

Hase-dera, a branch temple of the head temple Eihei-ji, is a training monastery for Buddhist monks
2-21-34 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0031, Japan  03-3400-5232

Sojiji, the head temple of the Soto Zen sect, special training monastery
1-18-A Monzen, Monzen-machi, Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture 927-2156, Japan  0768-42-0005

Nittaiji
1-1 Ho-o-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture 464-0057, Japan  052-751-0214

For women only:

Aichi Senmon Nisodo (located within Shōhōji Temple)
1-80 Shiroyama-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture 464-0045, Japan  052-751-2671

For all:

Saijoji Zen Training Center
250-01271157 Daiyu-cho, Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 0465-74-3121, Japan

Kasuisai Zen Monastery
2915-1 Kuno, Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0061, Japan  0538-42-2121

Toshoji
3796 Yokotani, Yakage-cho, Oda-gun, Okayama Prefecture 714-1212, Japan  0866-82-0087

Zuiōji
8-1 Yamane-cho, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture 792-0835, Japan  0897-41-6563

Ankokuji
3-14-4 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture 810-0001, Japan  092-741-2770

Kotaiji
1 Teramachi, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture 850-0872, Japan  095-823-7211

Gotanji
32-1-1 Shoda-cho, Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture 915-0043, Japan  0778-43-6081

Shōhōji Zen Training Center
129 Shōhōji, Kuroishi-machi, Mizusawa-ku, Ōshū City, Iwate Prefecture 023-0101, Japan  0197-26-4041

Zenpoji Zen Training Center
100 Sekine, Shimokawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture 997-1117, Japan  0235-33-3303

Central Temple Training Center
2-1 Minami Rokujo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0806, Japan  011-512-7321

Jōkōji
3-2-3 Yonemachi, Kushiro City, Hokkaido 085-0842 , Japan  0154-41-4318

The senmon sodo list is available in Japanese on this page of Sotoshu's website.