定輪寺, Buddhist temple in Susono City, Japan
Jorinji is a Buddhist temple in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, known by the mountain name Toezan. The grounds include a main hall, stone lanterns, and a cemetery where old grave markers from past centuries can still be read.
The temple is said to have been founded during the Enryaku era, roughly in the late 8th or early 9th century, as a Shingon Buddhist site. In 1440, a monk named Sono converted it to the Soto school and is remembered as the one who gave the temple its current form.
A weeping cherry tree stands in front of the main hall and draws many visitors each spring when it blooms. The temple belongs to the Soto school of Zen Buddhism and enshrines Shakyamuni Buddha as its main object of worship.
The temple sits in a natural setting in Susono and is worth visiting in spring when the cherry tree in front of the main hall is in bloom. It is advisable to contact the temple directly before visiting to confirm access and opening conditions.
A stone lantern on the grounds bears the year 1750 carved on its back and is still lit at night. The medieval poet Sogi, one of the leading figures of classical Japanese linked verse, had ties to this site, and both his grave marker and a poem stone can be found on the grounds.
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