Rinzaiji Temple in Shizuoka

Rinzaiji Temple in Shizuoka

Shizuoka is the seat of the prefecture government of Shizuoka. In the middle age, the IMAGAWA Clan was the "Shugo" of the current area of Shizuoka Prefecture. "Shugo" was a governor of each province in the middle age of Japan, dispatched by the "Kamakura Bakufu" in the Kamakura Age (1185 - 1333) and "Muromachi Bakufu" in the Muromachi Age (1333 - 1573) .

Rinzaiji Temple was originally built by IMAGAWA Ujichika (1471 - 1529) for his son, IMAGAWA Yoshimoto (1519 - 1560) . It is considered the temple was built between 1528 and 1531.

When IMAGAWA Ujiteru (1513 - 1536) , who was the eleventh head of the IMAGAWA Clan and was a brother of IMAGAWA Yoshimoto, died, he was buried at this temple, and the name of temple became "Rinzaiji Temple" in 1536.

Rinzaiji Temple is located at the foot of Mt. Shizuhata, which surrounds downtown Shizuoka City. You will see the Deva Gate at the entrance of Rinzaiji Temple.

The Deva Gate looks very historical. but it was built in the Meiji Age (1868 - 1912) . The tablet displayed at the deva gate was written by TOKUGAWA Yoshinobu (1837 - 1913) , who was the last "Shogun" in the Edo Age (1603 - 1868) .

The deva statues located at the gate were originally in Sengen Shrine in Shizuoka City.

Behind the Deva Gate, stairs continue to the main temple area of Rinzaiji Temple.

In the middle of the temple main area, "Hojyo", the main hall is located. "Hojyo" was built at the beginning of the Edo Age and is designated as an important property of Japan.

Behind "Hojyo", a garden is located. The garden has a traditional style that features a path around a pond. The garden is designated as a Scenic Spot of Japan.

To the left of "Hojyo", "Zazendo Hall" is located as shown in the below-left picture. "Zazendo Hall" is the place where ascetic monks sit in lotus position. The below right picture shows the Belltower, located to the right of "Hojyo".

Rinzaiji Temple is the place where ascetic monks make practices in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment. The temple buildings are not open to the public and visitors are requested to be silent in the temple area.

The signs displaced the both side of the entrance door indicate the above mentioned cautions.

At Rinzaiji temple, the room where TOKUGAWA Ieyasu (1543 - 1616) studied is rebuilt. TOKUGAWA Ieyasu was the first "Shogun" in the Edo Age. When he was young, from eight to seventeen years old, he was a hostage of IMAGAWA Yoshimoto. TAIGEN Sessai (1496 - 1555) , who was the Chief of the General Staff for IMAGAWA Yoshimoto, educated TOKUGAWA Ieyasu at Rinzaiji Temple. The room is not ordinarily open to the public, but it is specially open twice a year.

There are a couple of graves deeply related to Rinzaiji Temple on the hill side of Mt. Shizuhata. From the stairs to these graves, you will see downtown Shizuoka.

There are many houses in front of the temple. When the Edo Age was finished in 1868, Rinzaiji Temple was surrounded by rice fields.

The above-left picture shows the grave of IMAGAWA Ujiteru, who was the brother of IMAGAWA Yoshimoto. He died in 1536 and curiously his younger brother, IMAGAWA Hikogoro (? - 1536) died on the same day as IMAGAWA Ujiteru died.

The above-right picture shows the grave of TAIGEN Sessai. TAIGEN Sessai made a great contribution for IMAGAWA Yoshimoto to expand the teritory of the IMAGAWA Clan. When IMAGAWA Yoshimoto was the head of the IMAGAWA Clan, the territory area of the IMAGAWA Clan was the largest and reached to the Nagoya Area.

How to get there
From Tokyo, you will take a "Hikari" or "Kodama" on the Tokaido Shinkansen to Shizuoka, then take a bus bound for "Karase Eigyosho" to "Rinzaiji-Mae" bus stop. It will take fifteen minutes from Shizuoka Station to Rinzaiji-Mae by bus.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
Nihon-Daira
Ruins of Sunpu Castle
Other Sightseeing Spots in Shizuoka
Along Ohi River