[Kanagawa Prefecture] Kenchoji Temple, a Zen temple where an endless refreshing breeze blows

When you think of Kita-Kamakura, you think of the familiar "Kenchoji Temple." It is the first full-scale Zen temple in Japan, ranked first among the Kamakura Five Mountains. This is also the place I decided to go to first on my trip to Kita-Kamakura this time. It is one of the largest temples in the Kamakura area, and is a place where you can see important national cultural properties up close. Passing through the impressive main gate that welcomes visitors, the first thing you see when you enter the temple grounds is the magnificent "Sanmon" gate, which is the symbol of this temple and points to the three "enlightenment." It was a magnificent building so large that the entire building could not be captured in the frame of a photo unless you stepped back quite far! Beyond the Sanmon gate, there is a Buddhist hall, a lecture hall, and other large buildings, and in the Buddhist hall, the principal image of this temple, the "Seated Jizo Bodhisattva," which is said to have been created during the Muromachi period, is enshrined! The area where Kenchoji Temple is located was originally called "Jigokudani" (Hell Valley), a place of execution for criminals, and there was a predecessor temple that had Jizo Bodhisattva as its principal image in order to save those who fell into hell. It is said that the temple has made Jizo Bodhisattva its principal image because of this history. 🥸

The ceiling of the lecture hall, which is said to be one of the largest in the Kanto region, is painted with a spectacular cloud dragon painting, and its scale was breathtaking. 🐲

There were also many other things to see, such as the "Bonsho" (Bonsho), one of the "Three Famous Bells of Kamakura" and one of the few temple treasures that has remained since the temple's founding and is also designated as a national treasure, the gorgeous and glittering "Karamon" (Chinese Gate), which is also designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and the "Hansobo" (Hansobo), which is located on the hill of Kenchoji Temple and is lined with Karasu Tengu statues!

Personally, I was impressed by the "Obinzuru-sama" (Obinzuru statue) placed under the "Sanmon" (Sanmon)! He is one of the Buddha's disciples, and if you stroke any part of your body that hurts or is unwell, he will heal you with his supernatural powers. I especially stroked his head carefully 😂

There are so many things to see that I stayed at Kenchoji Temple for over an hour. It is a must-see when sightseeing in Kita-Kamakura ✌️

-——————————————
[Access🚃🚌]
Get off at Kita-Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line and walk for 15 minutes
Or take a bus from Kita-Kamakura Station for 5 minutes
(Take the Enoshima Electric Railway bus bound for Kamakura Station and get off at Kenchoji)

[Visiting hours🕰️]
8:30am - 4:30pm

[Admission fee💰]
Adults: 500 yen
Junior high school students and under: 200 yen
-—————————————

#Summer trip #Kanagawa Prefecture #Kamakura #Kita-Kamakura #Samurai culture #summerpilgrimage
#Kenchoji Temple #temple tour #temple and shrine tour #temples and shrines #important cultural property
#camera trip #SLR #canoneosx9i
#history tour #places where you can feel history #summer scenery
#love traveling #travel record #cutout world
#traveling in japan #where should i go next
#japan #japantravel #kamakura