Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh Visit Soji-in Temple on Third Day of Japan Tour
Sophie and Edward meet local officials at the UNESCO-listed temple in Koyasan; the duchess wears a green floral dress as the royal itinerary includes additional engagements in Tokyo and cultural sites.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visited Soji-in Temple in the mountains of Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, the third day of their four‑day tour of Japan. The couple were welcomed by Mayor Yoshiya of Koya Town and Wakayama Governor Izumi Miyazaki, along with Head Priest Eimyo Miyata, during a tour of the 12th‑century Buddhist temple that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Officials guided the pair through the temple grounds, including a tour of its wooden pagodas and tranquil gardens. As a sign of respect, the prince and duchess removed their shoes before entering the inner precinct, and officials presented gifts.
Sophie wore a green floral print mid‑length dress that nearly reached her ankles, paired with a crisp white blazer, while Edward wore a tan jacket over lighter beige trousers, a pale blue shirt and a printed red tie. The temple, located in the mountains of Koyasan in Japan's Wakayama Prefecture, is noted for its wooden structures, intricate designs and tranquil gardens.
The engagements on this leg of the tour also included a series of commitments in Tokyo. Earlier in the trip, the Edinburghs visited the Ukraine Mental Health Exchange Centre in Tokyo, a non‑profit organization supporting Ukrainian refugees and evacuees in Japan. The centre has more than 1,500 Ukrainian refugees registered, and its programs include group counselling, individual consultations and social gatherings. Sophie participated in a calligraphy workshop at the Shibuya Himawari and Kokorogoto Cafe during that visit.
She was photographed wearing a printed silk dress on another engagement during the tour, underscoring the duchess's ongoing participation in cultural and charitable events across the country. Later in Tokyo, the couple visited the Nezu Museum in Minato City, where they toured the gardens, viewed an exhibit and met the museum's director Koichi Nezu and his wife Mihoko.
The day before the temple visit, the Edinburghs attended a sumo match at Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena in Tokyo, joining thousands of fans in a box behind the ringside stands. They met wrestler Asanoyama Hiroki and Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku Nobuyoshi before the bouts began, as the Grand Sumo Tournament continued its schedule ahead of a UK appearance in October at the Royal Albert Hall.
The royal couple also took part in a tree‑planting ceremony at Akasaka State Guest House, where they planted an oak sapling taken from an English oak planted on the grounds by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, a symbol of the enduring ties between the Royal Family and the Imperial Family. The sapling ceremony complemented a day that included formal engagements with members of the Imperial Family and local officials.
The Duke and Duchess arrived in Japan on Sept. 18, and their four‑day schedule was set to run through Sept. 22, highlighting the ongoing cadence of official visits across Tokyo, Kyoto and Wakayama as they continue to engage with cultural institutions, international communities and Japanese officials during the state visit.