🌿 Hokokuji Temple (報国寺): Kamakura’s Bamboo Sanctuary – Your Complete Guide

#holidayitinerary

### **Why Visit?**
1. **Zen Among Bamboo**: Nicknamed the "Bamboo Temple," Hokokuji’s grove of **2,000+ towering mōsō bamboo stalks** creates a serene, light-dappled world perfect for meditation and photography .
2. **Samurai Legacy**: Founded in **1334** as the family temple of the Ashikaga and Uesugi clans, it houses the ashes of Ashikaga Ietoki and his 13-year-old grandson Yoshihisa, who died by *seppuku* .
3. **Cultural Fusion**: Sip **matcha tea** (¥600) at **Kyukoan Teahouse** while listening to bamboo leaves rustle—a quintessential Japanese experience .

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### **Top Attractions**
#### **1. Bamboo Grove**
- **Pathways & Light**: Wander narrow trails under a canopy of bamboo, where sunlight filters through like "green stained glass" .
- **Tea House**: Enjoy matcha with *wagashi* (sweets) on a wooden terrace overlooking the grove .

#### **2. Historic Structures**
- **Main Hall**: Rebuilt after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, it enshrines a **Shaka Nyorai (Buddha)** statue carved by Takuma Hōgen .
- **Thatched Bell Tower**: One of few surviving original structures, with a roof made of *kaya* grass .
- **Caves (Yagura)**: Three man-made caves hold Ashikaga clan ashes; admire from outside .

#### **3. Zen Gardens**
- **Dry Landscape (Karesansui)**: Raked gravel and moss evoke tranquility near the entrance .
- **Memorial Stones**: *Gorintō* pagodas honor warriors from the 1333 Siege of Kamakura .

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### **Visitor Essentials**
- **Hours**: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (last entry 3:30 PM); closed Dec 29–Jan 3 .
- **Fees**:
- **Bamboo Grove**: ¥400 (¥1,000 with tea) .
- **Temple Grounds**: Free .
- **Best Time**: **Weekday mornings** for fewer crowds; **autumn** for maple foliage .

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### **How to Get There**
- **From Tokyo**: Take the JR Yokosuka Line to **Kamakura Station** (1 hour), then:
- **Bus**: #23, #24, or #36 to **Jomyoji Stop** (10 mins, ¥220) .
- **Walk**: 30–40 mins through quaint neighborhoods .

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### **Pro Tips**
- **Footwear**: Wear comfortable shoes—paths are uneven with stepping stones .
- **Combine With**: Nearby **Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine** or **Engaku-ji Temple** for a full Kamakura day trip .
- **Photography**: Capture the bamboo grove’s play of light and shadow; avoid flash .

**#hokokujitemple #kamakuratravel #zenjapan**