Temples and technology

The project began with a desire to hold a co-working session somewhere that felt distinctly Kyoto. When the organizers approached the head priest of Butsugenji Temple, he immediately offered the main hall. The first session had about five participants, sitting on cushions and working with laptops on tatami. Many said they could concentrate, so the series continued.

Butsugenji Temple belongs to the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha tradition and has continued for 14 generations. The temple also runs the Tomarigi Project to open itself as a gathering place for local residents, aligning its aim to be open to the community with Miyako de IT’s goals. The archive records 23 events at Butsugenji Temple, and Daikoji Temple, founded in 1260 in Fushimi Ward, joined as the second temple base in May 2026.

Temples support focused work in three ways. First, the main hall is quiet and insulated from cafe noise. Second, passing through the gate, removing shoes, and entering the hall acts as a transition ritual into work. Third, the experience of coding in a temple is inherently shareable and helps the community grow. First-time visitors often say they concentrated better than during ordinary work, and the setting is particularly popular with overseas IT engineers at Digital Nomad Kyoto events.