The control post created by Emperor Tenmu in 679, which also marked the north of the Yamato Empire, developed over the centuries into an important Zen temple. The temple of the Myoshin-ji branch of the Rinzai school was promoted and expanded by Shôgun ASHIKAGA Takauji in the mid-14th century. During the Edo period (1603-1868), when Okitsu was a post station of the Tôkaidô, Seiken-ji found another powerful patron in TOKUGAWA Ieyasu. The present buildings and the still preserved rakan figures date from the beginning and end of the 18th century.
other temples
