Sodo (Meditation Hall)

Eihei-ji Temple, Fukui (plan)

This building is usually called the "Priests' Hall" in English, but in my opinion the "Meditation Hall" is a better translation. It is where the monks and devoted laypeople go to practice zazen. Each meditator is allocated a straw mat that measures a generous 1m by 2m, that has to do for eating, sleeping, and meditation for as long as one stays in the hall.