Ekō-ji (惠光寺) means something like Temple of the Gentle Light. The name hints at the light coming from Amida-butsu, the Buddha of boundless light.
The temple grounds are pretty new, built in 1993. Along with the temple, there’s also a little garden and a wooden house on the complex. What makes the temple so unique? It’s located in the city of デュッセルドルフ (Düsseldorf) and is the only temple complex in Germany built in the Japanese style. In Europe, the Ekō-ji is also the only temple of the Jōdo-Shinshū, one of the biggest Japanese schools of Buddhism.
Actually, the visit felt a bit surreal to us, kind of like we’d just taken the tram over to Japan. The only thing we missed was the smell of old wood and incense sticks, and maybe a drinks machine.
Visiting the garden is free. Otherwise, the Ekō-House regularly offers guided tours, events, tea ceremonies and courses. The best way to get to the temple is by tram (to Heerdter Sandberg) or bus (to Niederkasseler Kirchweg).
