Religious Locations and Centers

Poulsbo First Lutheran Church was founded in 1886 as the Fordefjord Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation.

It's a lovely old white church with a blue steeple and bells that go off regularly. In back, you'll find an old town cemetery.

Aside from being an active Lutheran congregation, it regularly holds one of Poulsbo two (or at least two) Lutefisk dinners.

Otagi Nembutsu-ji is a bit out of the way, but worth the trip for its MANY mossy stone figures.

Sect: Tendai

While the Golden Pavilion is truly golden, the Silver Pavilion does not appear to live up to its nickname. Its true name is Higashiyama Jisho-ji.

The pavilion is a popular tourist attraction, so expect crowds.

Sect: Rinzai Zen

Tenryu-ji is a UNESCO world heritage site near the Arashimaya Bamboo forest (and more worth visiting).

I have a treasured memory of sitting on the tatami looking out at the lovely gardens during a spring rain.

The head temple of the Tofukuji School of Rinzai Zen, Tofukuji is a large temple complex with many impressive sites that don't tend to be overrun by tourists.