Sōshū-ji Temple, Buddhist temple in Sano, Japan
Sōshū-ji, formally Kasugaoka-san Tenbōrin-in Sōshū Kanji, is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture. It is commonly known as Sano Yakuyoke Daishi. The temple was founded in 944 by Fujiwara no Hidesato and later moved to its current location in 1602.
Fujiwara no Hidesato established this temple in 944, when the surrounding area was still largely rural and undeveloped. The site has survived wars and natural disasters over the centuries, making it one of the oldest continuously active Buddhist institutions in the region.
Commonly called Sano Yakuyoke Daishi, the temple is one of the Kanto region's Three Great Masters, a grouping promoted by a former chief priest alongside Aoyagi Daishi and Kawagoe Daishi. New Year TV commercials in the Kanto area publicize it, and crowds come for hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year.
The temple grounds remain open to visitors from sunrise to sunset every day, though guests should keep noise to a minimum and respect the prayer areas. Those wishing to enter the halls should remove their shoes at the entrances and avoid disturbing any ceremonies that may be taking place.
One of the side buildings houses a collection of old sutras and religious texts that scholars have studied for centuries. Some of these documents date back to the founding period and show the calligraphy and inks used at that time.
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