Zenpoji is a prestigious Soto Zen temple said to have been founded in the 10th century, revered as the Dragon God for maritime safety and bountiful catches. Its grand precinct includes a five-story pagoda built in 1883 and is one of Shonai's leading temples.

Zenpoji Temple is said to have been founded during the Tenkyo era (938–947) by the monk Myotatsu Shonin, making it one of the oldest Soto Zen temples in the Tohoku region. According to tradition, the site originally functioned as a Tendai Buddhist training ground before later coming under the Zen tr…