Kenchō-ji
- Published 2010.7.13
The head temple of the Rinzai Buddhist sect and the first great Rinzai temple of Kamakura, Kenchō-ji is Japan's first professional Zen dojo. At its peak there were 49 sub-temples, but these were lost in fires. The existing buildings were either rebuilt or moved since the Edo era. The sōmon (main gate), sanmon (large triple gate), and temple building are all lined up to form a straight line.
Highlights of Kenchō-ji
・Sanmon
With a height of 30 meters, the sanmon (large triple gate) lies just past the main gate. It was rebuilt in 1775 as a multilayered gate, and houses a statue of the five hundred arhats on its highest level.
・Hōjō
Rebuilt in 1943 after being transported from Kyoto’s Hanshūsanmai-in Temple along with the sōmon (main gate), the hōjō houses the enshrined statue of the diademed Buddha. In the background is a park which encompasses Kokoroji Pond, and is famous for azalea and iris flowers which grow there.
・Hattō (Lecture hall)
Being labelled “important cultural property,” the hattō is equivalent to the kōdō (auditorium) found at non-zen temples. The building itself dates back to the 11th year of the Bunka period (1814), and houses a statue of the thousand-armed goddess of mercy. The hattō was registered as important cultural property in 2005.
・Banshō (Temple bell)
The temple bell was casted in 1255 by one of Kamakura’s casters, and has been at Kenchō-ji since the temple was built.Information
| Hours | 9:00 – 16:30 |
|---|---|
| Holidays | - |
| Fee | 300 yen |
| Access | Thirteen minute walk from Kitakamakura Station |
| Address | 8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Tel | 0467-24-3437 |
| Website | - |
| Map |
