Kita-Kamakura’s Engaku-ji Temple

Huge complex of temple buildings, gardens & statues

Tomoko Kamishima Jun 08, 2012 - 1 min read

All the main ceremonies take place here.

View of part of the temple complex from above.

Notice the beautiful wooden carvings on the temple door.

Hundreds of statues stand near the main building.

The temple has a very pretty little pond.

One of many small paths among the trees.

Notice the Hojo family crest (Dragon scale triangle) on the roof of the temple.

This complex of temples has a long pavement leading into the inner grounds. Zen temples usually place their buildings in a line, and Engaku-ji is no exception. The main buildings are lined up along the center and the other 19 temples stand on both sides. In 1282 Hojo Tokimune (8th Regency of Kamakura Shogunate) established this temple for the repose of soldiers in the fight against old China in 1274 and 1281. Engaku-ji gained its central position in Japanese Zen with many famous priests, such as Muso Soseki. Its temple bell, at 2.5 meters, is the largest in Kamakura.

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Tomoko Kamishima @tomoko.kamishima

Japan is a small island nation, but we have a huge number of surprising things to discover here. Many of these delights can be found when you step off the main street onto small side paths. I really enjoy studying about and researching various aspects of traditional Japanese culture, and then sha...