Overview
Sainen-ji Temple is a temple of the Ji-shu school located in Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Its mountain name is Kisshakusan. Along with Gekko-ji, it was one of the leading temples in Fujiyoshida that held a shogunate-granted temple estate in the Edo period, and it is known to pilgrims as the 30th sacred site of the Kai 108 Pilgrimage. Its calm bearing befits a temple town at the northern foot of Mount Fuji.
Highlights
- ●An ancient Fujiyoshida temple said to have been founded in 719
- ●A Ji-shu school temple with the mountain name Kisshakusan
- ●The prestige of a leading city temple that held an estate in the Edo period
- ●The pilgrimage charm of being the 30th site of the Kai 108 Pilgrimage
History
According to temple tradition, Sainen-ji dates back to its founding in the year 719, making it an ancient temple. A temple of the Ji-shu school, it ranked in the Edo period among the city's leading temples that were granted a temple estate by the shogunate, alongside Gekko-ji. Counted as the 30th site of the Kai 108 Pilgrimage, it carries the history of faith in Fujiyoshida to the present day.
Access
The temple sits in Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, at the northern foot of Mount Fuji, close to the town center of Fujiyoshida. Using a station on the Fujikyuko Line as your starting point makes it easy to get around. It is reassuring to confirm visiting hours and matters such as goshuin seal availability through official sources before you go.
Best season
Spring and autumn, with their mild climate, are recommended for an easy visit. In the clear seasons the surroundings at the northern foot of Mount Fuji are pleasant, and you can walk the quiet precincts at leisure. Winter is bitterly cold, so dress warmly when you visit.
Map
35.4747, 138.7942 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Start from a Fujikyuko Line station and walk the temple town of Fujiyoshida
- 2Visit Sainen-ji and take in the quiet precincts of this Ji-shu temple
- 3Reflect on its history as a site on the Kai 108 Pilgrimage
- 4After your visit, enjoy the scenery at Mount Fuji's northern foot and local flavors
Did you know?
💡 A history said to reach back to a founding in 719, its identity as a temple of the Ji-shu school, and its Edo-period standing as a leading temple with a granted estate all speak to this temple's prestige. It is also one of the sacred sites on the Kai 108 Pilgrimage.
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