Nakain Temple: A Serene Oasis in Kawagoe

Nakain Temple, or Naka Temple, is a serene Buddhist temple with a rich history dating back to 830 AD. As the middle temple of a three-temple complex, once known as Muryojuji, Nakain holds a significant place in Kawagoe's cultural landscape. While its neighbor Kitain Temple often steals the limelight, Nakain boasts its own unique charm and historical importance. The temple is particularly celebrated for its stunning gardens, which burst into life each spring with vibrant displays of weeping cherry blossoms. These 'shidare sakura' are illuminated at night, creating a magical atmosphere. However, the gardens offer beauty throughout the year, with colorful tree blossoms and meticulously maintained pine trees in early March, red spider lilies in early Autumn, and colorful foliage in late Autumn. Nakain Temple is also known as the birthplace of Sayama Tea in the Kanto region. According to legend, the priest Jikaku brought tea seeds from Mt. Hiei and planted them in the Muryojuji gardens. A stone monument within the temple grounds commemorates this claim to fame. Furthermore, Nakain has ties to the novelist Shimazaki Toson, with the Fusentei teahouse on the grounds dedicated to his mother.