Buddhist temple
Heirin-ji
平林寺（へいりんじ）
Niiza, Saitama Prefecture
A Zen temple of the Myōshin-ji branch of the Rinzai school in Nobidome, Niiza, with the mountain name Kinpōzan. It enshrines a seated Shaka Nyorai as its principal image in the Buddha hall, and its extensive temple woodland is a Natural Monument of Japan.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Prayers associated with this place
Principal image: Shaka Nyorai (seated statue)
History and things to know
According to the temple's origin account, it was founded in Eiwa 1 (1375) in what is now Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama City, welcoming the Zen master Sekishitsu Zenkyū as founding priest. After falling into ruin through war, it was revived with the support of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and in Kanbun 3 (1663) it moved to Nobidome according to the last wishes of Matsudaira Nobutsuna. In Meiji 36 the Heirin Sōdō, a training monastery, was opened.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Related kami and buddhas
Before you visit
It is a Zen training temple, and there is a fee for entry. The temple states that it is closed to visitors every February and on New Year's Eve.
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 平林寺「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-22 確認）
This site is independent of the shrines, temples, and other websites mentioned. No partnership or endorsement is implied.