#koshu#yamanashi
A Famous Temple with a Beautiful Garden in Koshu
Erinji Temple is one of Yamanashi's most famous Zen temples. Founded in 1330, it was the family temple of Takeda Shingen, the famous warlord who ruled Kai Province (present-day Yamanashi) from 1540 to 1573. The temple grounds are quiet and peaceful with many beautiful sights, starting with the tree-lined approach path (sando). This approach leads from the black Somon Gate to the Kaizando Hall and other temple buildings; the gates along the path are perfectly aligned to frame the Kaizando Hall as you approach.
Many of the buildings burned down in 1905, but the bright red Shikyakumon Gate survives. The prestigious Shikyakumon was commissioned in 1606 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate that ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867. The gate is the oldest surviving structure in the shrine and is considered an Important Cultural Property.
