Yusanji Temple

Yusanji Temple

Yusanji (油山寺) in Muramatsu, Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shingon temple whose three-storey pagoda of 1611, Sanmon gate of 1659 and main-hall zushi of around 1588 were each designated as an Important Cultural Property on September 17, 1954 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

According to Shizuoka Cultural Properties Navi, the temple is said to have been founded by the monk Gyoki in the Nara period and rebuilt by Minamoto no Yoritomo in the Kamakura period.

Pagoda, Gate and Zushi

The pagoda was begun in 1574 with the support of the lord of Kuno Castle and finished 37 years later; it stands 23.88 metres with its finial. The gate stood below the palace of Kakegawa Castle and was moved here when the castle was abandoned in 1872. The zushi is a one-bay cabinet holding the principal image, Yakushi (Agency for Cultural Affairs; Shizuoka Navi). Each property is described on its own page.

Visiting

According to Shizuoka Cultural Properties Navi, the pagoda and gate can be seen from outside only, the zushi can be viewed from the outer sanctuary of the main hall, and there is parking.