
This time, we introduce Yusanji Temple (Iozan Yusanji), a Shingon Chizan sect temple, located in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture, an area formerly known as Enshu or Totomi Province. The entire mountain serves as the temple grounds, making it a vast and nature-rich temple.
Additionally, the temple is home to historically significant buildings and cultural assets, evoking a sense of history that stretches back to the Asuka period. It reminds visitors of the deep faith it received from the powerful leaders of various eras.
At Yusanji Temple, the “Enshu Sanzan Wind Chime Festival” is currently being held, attracting many visitors who seek its beauty and soothing sounds. Additionally, during the festival period each year, limited edition paper-cut Goshuin stamps are distributed, which are extremely popular. Our company had the privilege of assisting in the creation of these highly sought-after paper-cut Goshuin stamps.
History of Yusanji Temple

Iozan Yakuoin Yusanji Temple was founded in 701 during the Asuka period by Gyoki, with Yakushi Nyorai as the principal deity. In 749, Empress Koken, famous as a female emperor, visited to pray for the healing of her eye disease. It is said that after she washed her eyes with the consecrated water from the “Ruri Waterfall” that flows within the temple grounds, her eye disease was cured.
Because of this, the temple became renowned for curing eye diseases and garnered faith from prominent samurai and emperors.
The guardian deity of Yusanji Temple is a great tengu called Gunzenbo Daigongen. As a deity of the legs and lower body, he has long been worshipped by travelers on the Tokaido road. Previously, there was a giant tengu cedar tree said to be 1,100 years old, but it was felled by a typhoon. Today, the enormous roots of the tree are preserved.

Highlights of Yusanji Temple
Yusanji Temple is home to many historically significant buildings and cultural assets, each of which is worth seeing. Here are some of the most notable highlights.
Temple Gate
The first thing you will see when visiting Yusanji Temple is the Sanmon Gate, which was originally the main gate of Kakegawa Castle. It was relocated during the Meiji period following the order to abolish castles. Built in the early Edo period, this gate is constructed in the style of a two-story castle gate with a side entrance.
This structure, which integrates the gate and the turret, features a large main gate along with a smaller side gate called a “Kugurimon.” It is a rare architectural style from the Edo period that combines defense and convenience.

Houjou
The Hōjō, located roughly halfway up the temple grounds, was also built during the Edo period and houses many precious temple treasures. The shachihoko, which once adorned the Sanmon Gate, is also on display here. This piece, believed to date back to the early Edo period, has been designated as an Important Cultural Property by the nation.

Three-story pagoda
Further up, you will find the three-story pagoda, a beautiful structure that symbolizes Yusanji Temple. This pagoda was donated by Minamoto no Yoritomo in gratitude for the healing of his eye disease and is registered as a National Important Cultural Property. The architecture is an eclectic style, with the upper layer in Zen and Daibutsu styles, and the middle and lower layers in the Japanese style. The roof is covered with copper plates.


Yakushi Nyorai Zushi
At the summit, the Yakushido Hall houses the “Yakushi Nyorai Zushi” donated by Imagawa Yoshimoto. This golden, irimoya-style shrine, dating back to the Muromachi period, has a splendidly crafted roof made of honkawara tiles. Inside, the secret Buddha, Yakushi Nyorai, is enshrined.
Enshu Sanzan Wind Chime Festival
The “Enshu Sanzan Wind Chime Festival,” held from Saturday, May 25th to Sunday, September 1st, is a beloved summer tradition at Yusanji Temple. In addition to Yusanji Temple, located in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture, the festival also includes Hattasan Soneiji and Akihasou Honzan Kasuisai, collectively known as the “Enshu Sanzan.” These three temples are adorned with wind chimes and attract many visitors.
Origin of the Wind Chime Festival
So, why is the Wind Chime Festival held at temples?
The beautiful glass wind chimes we see today began to be made during the Edo period. It is said that the prototype of these wind chimes was the “fūtaku.
Fūtaku are bronze or iron bells hung from the eaves of temple towers and halls. When the wind blows, the clapper inside swings and makes a sound, which is believed to ward off evil spirits and malevolent influences.
The use of wind chimes as a way to ward off the summer heat may have evolved from their original purpose of warding off evil spirits. It could be seen as a kind of wordplay by the people of Edo.

Considering the origins of wind chimes, the connection between temples and wind chimes is surprisingly deep and naturally understandable. At the Enshu Sanzan temples, in addition to the origins of wind chimes, their rounded shape is associated with the Buddhist concept of “ensō,” and they are also named “Goennichi Wind Chimes.
Ensō, particularly in Zen Buddhism, is a concept with various interpretations. It is also said to represent the idea from the Avatamsaka Sutra that there is no distinction (the three non-discriminations) between the mind, the Buddha, and all living beings (sentient beings).
As you walk along the temple path, the sounds of the many wind chimes adorning the area bring a sense of coolness, while the occasional sound of the fūtaku bells wards off evil spirits and evokes a sense of deep history. The unique wind chime festival of the temples, known as the “Enshu Sanzan Wind Chime Festival,” allows you to fully experience this special atmosphere.
Limited Edition Paper-Cut Goshuin for the Wind Chime Festival

The limited edition paper-cut Goshuin, distributed only during the Wind Chime Festival, features motifs of wind chimes, evoking a sense of summer with designs of uchiwa fans and cute frogs. The strips of paper hanging from the wind chimes are inscribed with “Yusanji,” “Fuurin,” and “Matsuri,” clearly identifying it as a Goshuin related to the Wind Chime Festival. The uchiwa fan can be stamped with the date and other marks.
The Goshuin is entirely expressed through paper-cutting and is smaller than A6 size, making it easy to paste into a regular Goshuin book. The paper used is blue, inspired by lapis lazuli, one of the Seven Treasures of Buddhism, which not only evokes a sense of coolness but also reflects the pure Lapis Lazuli Paradise of Yakushi Nyorai, the principal deity of Yusanji Temple.