Why don’t you enjoy hiking in the Temple of Kamakura?
I’m Nobu, I like traveling overseas and in Japan, visited 25 countries.
I’ve got the license of the certificate English guide in Japan for 8 years.
I show you hidden Japan which you have never seen and heard of!
Kamakura city
Kamakura is a town with many shrines and temples.
It’s surrounded by mountains, there are also many shrines and temples with wonderful views.
Today I introduce you to the Kenchoji Temple.
Kenchoji temple
The Kenchoji Temple was founded in 1253 by Hojo Tokiyori, the fifth regent of the Kamakura Shogunate.
It is the head temple of the Kenchoji sect of the Rinzai school.
The first head monk was Rankei Doryu, a Zen monk from the Southern Sou Dynasty.
And the main deity of the temple is Jizo Bosatsu (Jizo Bodhisattva).
Its total site area is 1.5 times the size of Tokyo Dome stadium.
The precincts of the temple are designated as a national historic site as the “precincts of Kenchoji Temple.”
The first Zen temple
The Kenchoji temple was the first pure Zen temple in Japan.
At the most, more than 1,000 monks were practicing here.
And it is the most highly ranked Zen temple in Kamakura of the Kamakura Gozan.( 5 temples)
5 temples are Kenchoji, Engakuji, Jufukuji, Jochiji, and Jomyoji.
Many cultural assets
There are many cultural treasure assets in vast precincts of Kenchoji Temple.
The major temple buildings are designated as National Important Cultural Properties.
Aldo it’s including the Sanmon (Gate), the Buddha Hall, and the Hodo Hall, one of the largest in the Kanto region.
There is a Buddhist bell in the bell tower next to the Sanmon (Gate).
It’s a national treasure too.
And the bell was cast in 1255 when Kenchoji was first built.
At the back of the hall, there is a large storehouse and the important cultural property Karamon. ( gate)
Big tree( Chinese juniper)
There is a giant tree said to be 750 years old.
It is designated as a natural monument by the city of Kamakura .
Japanese garden
The garden (pond garden) is an elegant one with a pond in the center, an island in the middle, a bridge, and pine trees and azaleas surrounding the pond.
It is designated as a national scenic beauty as the “Kenchoji Garden. “
And this garden is said to have been created by Rankei Doryu the first head monk of the temple.
The temple grounds are located on the edge of a mountain, and if you walk straight, you will gradually walk towards the mountain.
Hanzoubou shrine
If you walk 15 minutes from the entrance gate there is a staircase at the far end of the temple grounds.
Then you climb up the stairs, you will see there is a shrine called “Hanzoubou”.
It is a shrine that protects Kenchoji Temple.
You can see the complex of Kenchoji Temple, the city of Kamakura, the mountains and the sea from the observatory in the precincts.
Shojoken observatory
Also there is an observatory called Shojoken if you walk more 15 minutes up the mountain.
This is also the observatory for the hiking course through the mountains of Kamakura.
If the weather is good, you can see Mount Fuji and the city of Kamakura below.
It is a tough climb, but you will be rewarded.
Why don’t you try walking at a temple in Kamakura?
You can enjoy culture and nature at the same time!
I’m Nobu, one heart enjoy together!!