Kasuisai Temple

Located in the peaceful countryside of Fukuroi City in Shizuoka Prefecture, Kasuisai Temple is a historic Zen temple surrounded by nature. The temple grounds are very large, covering about 330,000 square meters. More than twenty buildings stand inside the complex, along with gardens and walking paths. Visitors come here to see traditional architecture, seasonal flowers and cultural festivals. 

Kasuisai Temple History

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In 1401, the Zen master Jochu Tengin founded Kasuisai Temple during the Muromachi period. It belongs to the Soto Zen sect and has served as a training temple for monks for over 600 years. Even today, monks continue their daily training here.

The temple has a famous story connected to Tokugawa Ieyasu. When Ieyasu became the lord of Hamamatsu Castle, he invited a priest from the temple to meet him. During their meeting, the priest fell asleep because he was tired from his long journey. Ieyasu did not get angry. Instead, he kindly said that the priest must be relaxed, like a parent with a child. He told his followers to let him sleep. The word Kasui, meaning “sleepy,” later became the temple’s name.

Architecture and Sacred Buildings

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The temple grounds have many impressive buildings and cultural treasures. One important building is Zuiryukaku Hall, which is a large reception hall made of Japanese cypress. It is a national cultural landmark. Inside, visitors can see beautiful ceiling paintings and art on sliding screens.

The Akiba Grand Shrine is an important part of the temple complex. It honors Akiba Sanjakubo Daigongen, a guardian who protects people from fire. Because of this, many visit Kasuisai to pray for fire prevention. The temple also has meditation halls where monks practice Zen. Visitors can sometimes join meditation sessions or stay overnight.

Seasonal Festivals

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Kasuisai Temple is well known for its seasonal festivals. The most famous is the Kasuisai Hina Matsuri held from January 1 to March 31 each year. During the festival, traditional hina dolls, also known as Emperor and Empress dolls, are displayed around Zuiryukaku Hall. The main display features over 1,200 dolls arranged on a large multi-tiered platform. This scene is one of the largest hina displays in Japan and attracts many visitors.

In spring, the Peony Festival celebrates the blooming of thousands of peonies in the garden. During summer, the photogenic Enshu Sanzan Wind Chime Festival fills the temple grounds with the gentle sound of colorful wind chimes. When autumn comes around, visitors come to enjoy the bright colors of maple leaves during the autumn pilgrimage.