[Gifu Prefecture] Tree Burial Ground with Clear Nagara River and Cherry Blossoms, 'Mino Seiryu no Oka'. Tours and Applications Open for Summer 2026 Opening.
The Zen temple Eishoin of the Soto sect in Atage, Mino City, Gifu Prefecture, has completed a new tree burial cemetery, 'Mino Seiryu no Oka,' on a hill overlooking the clear Nagara River. Prior to its opening this summer, they have started accepting on-site tours and applications.
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- 📰 Published: April 3, 2026 at 17:00
Project Overview & Inquiries
Features of 'Mino Seiryu no Oka' Tree Burial
(1) [Scenery] 'Open Natural Scenery' Overlooking the Clear Nagara River
A major feature of this tree burial is its open location that utilizes the nature of the satoyama (woodland close to a village). Located on a hill where the clear Nagara River flows below and cherry blossoms bloom in spring, the gentle original landscape typical of Gifu and Mino spreads out. The space has been arranged so that families can visit comfortably, feeling the changing of the seasons, as if they were taking a stroll.
(2) [Peace of Mind] Balancing 'Less Burden' and 'Thoughts for the Deceased'
Responding to the wish 'not to burden future generations,' the deceased (the last person) will be enshrined in an individual plot until the 13th memorial service. After that, Eishoin will take responsibility for joint burial and perpetual memorial services.
This ensures that the bereaved family can cherish the time spent praying individually, without leaving future management burdens or anxieties about 'closing the grave' to the next generation.
In addition, we hope that families will feel free to drop by for temple events such as tree planting to be done by the family before the 13th memorial service, cherry blossom illuminations, and zazen gatherings, allowing them to accumulate time thinking of their loved ones along with the cycle of the seasons.
(3) [Environment] 'Access' in the Center of Mino City, Gifu Prefecture
Despite being in a rich natural environment overlooking the Nagara River, it has good access from the Gifu and Nagoya areas, taking about 10 minutes by car from the 'Mino IC' on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway.
Furthermore, a step-free flow line is secured from the parking lot to the cemetery area, allowing anyone, from small children to the elderly, to visit safely.
Project Overview & Inquiries
- Project Name: Mino Seiryu no Oka ~Tree Burial of Eishoin~
- Location: 711 Atage, Mino City, Gifu Prefecture
- Plans: For 1-2 people, 3-4 people, 5 or more people
- Conditions of Use: Regardless of religious sect, no obligation to become a parishioner, reservations during life possible
- Inquiries/Tour Reservations: https://www.eishoin.jp/jyumokuso
Thoughts on the Project and the Region
This project has taken more than 3 years since its conception, and with the cooperation of many people inside and outside the region, we have been working to improve the surrounding satoyama and natural environment. Thanks to everyone, it is finally taking shape now.
'Mino Seiryu no Oka' adopts a 'circular' operating model in which a portion of the memorial service fees is used for satoyama maintenance and landscape preservation.
This is an initiative to protect the local natural environment through memorial practices such as sutra chanting, memorial services, and interment of ashes, handing down the 'hometown landscape' to the future. Connecting memorial services and the preservation of the local environment in a reasonable manner leads to a sense of security for those resting here, knowing they can entrust themselves to it long into the future.
In an uncertain era of population decline, we believe this will also provide an opportunity to reconsider the nature of memorial services while facing issues such as landscape preservation and environmental maintenance.
In addition, we will cherish the role of a place where connections are loosely maintained through daily prayers and events.
We hope that through such accumulations, a gentle feeling of caring for others will be nurtured within ourselves, who are living in the present.
As a temple that continues to walk in the land of Atage, Mino City, overlooking the clear Nagara River, we aim to steadily pass on the scenery of this land and the connections with people to the next generation while continuing memorial services without interruption and facing the maintenance of the local environment.
About Eishoin
Over 350 years since its foundation in 1670 (Kanbun 10). Eishoin is a Soto sect temple standing beside 'Atagezaka,' a highway connecting Mino town and the paper-making village. With the rich nature of the Nagara River in the background, we have watched over the activities of the people walking in this land.
In the past, craftsmen involved in Mino washi paper joined their hands in prayer along the way, and during and after the war, it became a schoolhouse accepting evacuated children from Nagoya. Here, there are years when people gathered in each era and accumulated time together. Inheriting the history as such a 'spiritual home' and passing it on to the next is an important role we want to fulfill in this land.
In recent years, while valuing the milestones of memorial services such as funerals and Buddhist services, we have been striving to create an 'open temple' where anyone can easily drop by through zazen gatherings and events. While touching the memories etched in the land, what should the figure of a temple required in the present era be? We continue to ask ourselves its nature every day.
'To respect the countless connections over hundreds of years and to be a place that will save many people hundreds of years from now.' We will continue to take steady steps in this land, snuggling up to the local nature and the hearts of the people who gather here.
Features of 'Mino Seiryu no Oka' Tree Burial
(1) [Scenery] 'Open Natural Scenery' Overlooking the Clear Nagara River
A major feature of this tree burial is its open location that utilizes the nature of the satoyama (woodland close to a village). Located on a hill where the clear Nagara River flows below and cherry blossoms bloom in spring, the gentle original landscape typical of Gifu and Mino spreads out. The space has been arranged so that families can visit comfortably, feeling the changing of the seasons, as if they were taking a stroll.
(2) [Peace of Mind] Balancing 'Less Burden' and 'Thoughts for the Deceased'
Responding to the wish 'not to burden future generations,' the deceased (the last person) will be enshrined in an individual plot until the 13th memorial service. After that, Eishoin will take responsibility for joint burial and perpetual memorial services.
This ensures that the bereaved family can cherish the time spent praying individually, without leaving future management burdens or anxieties about 'closing the grave' to the next generation.
In addition, we hope that families will feel free to drop by for temple events such as tree planting to be done by the family before the 13th memorial service, cherry blossom illuminations, and zazen gatherings, allowing them to accumulate time thinking of their loved ones along with the cycle of the seasons.
(3) [Environment] 'Access' in the Center of Mino City, Gifu Prefecture
Despite being in a rich natural environment overlooking the Nagara River, it has good access from the Gifu and Nagoya areas, taking about 10 minutes by car from the 'Mino IC' on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway.
Furthermore, a step-free flow line is secured from the parking lot to the cemetery area, allowing anyone, from small children to the elderly, to visit safely.
Project Overview & Inquiries
- Project Name: Mino Seiryu no Oka ~Tree Burial of Eishoin~
- Location: 711 Atage, Mino City, Gifu Prefecture
- Plans: For 1-2 people, 3-4 people, 5 or more people
- Conditions of Use: Regardless of religious sect, no obligation to become a parishioner, reservations during life possible
- Inquiries/Tour Reservations: https://www.eishoin.jp/jyumokuso
Thoughts on the Project and the Region
This project has taken more than 3 years since its conception, and with the cooperation of many people inside and outside the region, we have been working to improve the surrounding satoyama and natural environment. Thanks to everyone, it is finally taking shape now.
'Mino Seiryu no Oka' adopts a 'circular' operating model in which a portion of the memorial service fees is used for satoyama maintenance and landscape preservation.
This is an initiative to protect the local natural environment through memorial practices such as sutra chanting, memorial services, and interment of ashes, handing down the 'hometown landscape' to the future. Connecting memorial services and the preservation of the local environment in a reasonable manner leads to a sense of security for those resting here, knowing they can entrust themselves to it long into the future.
In an uncertain era of population decline, we believe this will also provide an opportunity to reconsider the nature of memorial services while facing issues such as landscape preservation and environmental maintenance.
In addition, we will cherish the role of a place where connections are loosely maintained through daily prayers and events.
We hope that through such accumulations, a gentle feeling of caring for others will be nurtured within ourselves, who are living in the present.
As a temple that continues to walk in the land of Atage, Mino City, overlooking the clear Nagara River, we aim to steadily pass on the scenery of this land and the connections with people to the next generation while continuing memorial services without interruption and facing the maintenance of the local environment.
About Eishoin
Over 350 years since its foundation in 1670 (Kanbun 10). Eishoin is a Soto sect temple standing beside 'Atagezaka,' a highway connecting Mino town and the paper-making village. With the rich nature of the Nagara River in the background, we have watched over the activities of the people walking in this land.
In the past, craftsmen involved in Mino washi paper joined their hands in prayer along the way, and during and after the war, it became a schoolhouse accepting evacuated children from Nagoya. Here, there are years when people gathered in each era and accumulated time together. Inheriting the history as such a 'spiritual home' and passing it on to the next is an important role we want to fulfill in this land.
In recent years, while valuing the milestones of memorial services such as funerals and Buddhist services, we have been striving to create an 'open temple' where anyone can easily drop by through zazen gatherings and events. While touching the memories etched in the land, what should the figure of a temple required in the present era be? We continue to ask ourselves its nature every day.
'To respect the countless connections over hundreds of years and to be a place that will save many people hundreds of years from now.' We will continue to take steady steps in this land, snuggling up to the local nature and the hearts of the people who gather here.
FAQ
What are the conditions for using 'Mino Seiryu no Oka'?
It is open to all religious sects with no obligation to become a parishioner. Reservations while living are also accepted.
How will the graves be managed in the future?
Individual enshrinement lasts until the 13th anniversary, after which Eishoin provides perpetual joint memorial services, eliminating burdens on successors.
How is the accessibility?
It is about a 10-minute drive from the Mino IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, featuring a step-free, barrier-free design from the parking lot.