Sōji-ji (總持寺) is one of two daihonzan (大本山, "head temples") of the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism.

Keizan, later known as Sōtō's great patriarch Taiso Jōsai Daishi, founded the present temple in 1321,[3] when he renamed it Sōji-ji with the help and patronage of Emperor Go-Daigo.

[4][5] The temple has about twelve buildings in Tsurumi, part of the port city of Yokohama, one designed by the architect Itō Chūta.

At that time, the temple was a small chapel within the precincts of a larger Shinto shrine called Morooka Hiko Jinja.

[8] This ascension of Sōji-ji happened in part due to its efforts to send monks out into the countryside, and over generations these monks would often convert small, village chapels (nominally Tendai or Shingon) into full-time temples, which in turn helped Sōji-ji's network grow.

It was rebuilt over a period of several years and, to bring more Sōtō Zen to eastern Japan, reopened in 1911 in its present location at Tsurumi, Yokohama.

The Sanshōkaku, constructed in 1990 and equipped with computers and other modern amenities, is a visitors' center for practice and workshops for lay persons aimed at fulfilling Keizan Zenji's vow to help all sentient beings.

[12] Among outreach activities, the Sōji Gakuen Academy is a school system where the students study the Buddha's teaching.