[Shizuoka] Kasuisai, home to the "Best Toilet in Japan" where the Ucchusma Vidyaraja is enshrined, was a temple full of highlights

🗓️Date of visit: November 2024 / Kasuisai (Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture)

A temple with the best toilet in Japan.
I was finally able to visit Kasuisai in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture,
which I had wanted to go to for a long time.

A Buddhist statue right in the middle of the restroom!

It was truly a temple with many highlights,
but what moved me the most was the Ucchusma Vidyaraja
enshrined in the Tōsu (restroom).

Kasuisai belongs to the Soto sect.
In Zen temples, the Tōsu is one of the seven temple buildings, and the three places of the Sōdō (place for Zazen and meals), Yokusu (bath), and Tōsu (restroom)
are called the "Three Silent Halls," where it is said you must never speak.

Right in the middle of this restroom, known as the "Great Tōsu of Japan,"
was a magnificent Ucchusma Vidyaraja.

He has four arms: a left hand pointing to the heavens and a left hand holding a skull, and a right hand holding a treasure staff and a vajra.
At his feet are a Ganesha being stepped on by his left foot and a Ganesha with hands in prayer.

It is a masterpiece by Seirun Takamura from 1937.

And this Tōsu, which has been in active use since before the war, is still in use today.
It is simply stylish and cool! A bundle of good taste!!
This is truly the best toilet in Japan!

It has a sense of cleanliness and openness that makes you forget it's a toilet.
It was truly the power of the Ucchusma Vidyaraja,
who "purifies the impure with raging fire," in full effect.

Kasuisai had plenty of highlights other than the Tōsu.

The one-head-tall Daikokuten of Good Fortune and Success

In this Daikoku Hall, there is the Daikokuten of Good Fortune and Success.There were also A-un mice next to the shrine.

SD Gundams are two heads tall,
but this Daikoku-sama goes even further at one head tall!
(Two heads tall if you include the rice bale)

Enku statues here too??

When I entered the Kaizando Hall, where Dogen Zenji, the founder of the Soto sect, Keizan Zenji, the founder of Sojiji Temple,
and successive head priests are enshrined,
I unexpectedly found a row of Enku statues.

I was surprised to find Enku's Buddhist statues at Kasuisai,
but I was told these are works by Mr. Toshihide Adachi of Seki City, Gifu Prefecture,
who is considered the leading expert in reproducing Enku statues.
There were so many that they couldn't all fit in a photo.

A temple where it's okay to sleep?!

There was also a heartwarming episode behind the mysterious temple name "Kasuisai".

The head priest, who had nurtured a long bond with Ieyasu since his childhood, was summoned by Ieyasu, who had become a distinguished lord, and headed to the castle.
Due to the fatigue of the long journey, he accidentally fell asleep during the audience.

To the retainers who were angry, saying "How rude!", Ieyasu is said to have replied as follows:
"The priest looks at me like his own beloved child. That is why he sleeps with peace of mind. I am happy for that intimate affection; priest, you may sleep."

The priest who loved Ieyasu like his own child, and Ieyasu who adored the priest.
Because he was happy with that intimacy and gave him permission to "sleep," it is said that this temple came to be called "Kasui (you may sleep) Sai."

Soto Zen training hall

Kasuisai is also a training hall for the Soto school of Buddhism,
and many unsui (trainee monks) are training here.
I also saw some foreign trainee monks.

When I entered the reception area for the tour, the first thing that greeted me was Skanda.

The gyoko (fish board) is struck to signal the time.
It uses a fish, which is said to never sleep day or night, and while it also serves to warn trainee monks against laziness,
this gyoko had impressive wide-open eyes,
and I felt a strong will that said, "I will absolutely not sleep."

In the monks' hall, there was also a statue of Manjusri Bodhisattva in the form of a monk.

This Bishamonten was very impressive.

The evil spirit being stepped on has quite a unique personality! (I mean that as a compliment)

As a sacred site for fire prevention, the "Akiba Sohonden"

The principal image of Kasuisai is the Holy Kannon Bodhisattva, but
due to the relocation of the true body of the Akiba Sohonden Sanjakubo Daigongen from Akiba-ji Temple in the 6th year of Meiji,
it is also called the "Akiba Sohonden"
as a sacred site for fire prevention.

The Goshinden, where Akiba Sanjakubo Daigongen is enshrined, is full of tengu.

The Goshinden also featured magnificent dragon carvings and decorations.

When I visited, it was just the time for prayers.
When I received permission to observe, the chanting of about ten monks inside the dimly lit main hall and
the sound of the prayer drums echoed, which was very powerful.

The design of the plastic bag from the shop is also great!

Pay attention to the paper they tuck into your goshuincho (stamp book) too!

When you receive a goshuin (temple stamp),
they sometimes tuck in a piece of paper so the ink doesn't transfer to other pages,
and it's fun to see the variety, as some temples use calligraphy paper, others use newspaper,
and some use paper with historical descriptions.

In the past, they sometimes used recycled daily tear-off calendars,
which is kind of heartwarming ☺️

At Kasuisai, it was actually Akiba Sanjakubo Daigongen-sama.
It's amazing that they provide special color-printed paper!

Since there were few buses on the way back, I decided to walk to the station.
The tengu I found on top of a sign along the way
was cute and kept me entertained until the very end.

It was truly a very fulfilling visit.

📌 Akiba Sohonden Kasuisai
2915-1 Kuno, Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture

#Kasuisai #Kasuisai #UcchusmaMyoo
#Goshuin #TemplesAndShrines #BuddhistStatues #BuddhaViewing

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