🌸 Daigyo-ji Temple in Kamakura - Pray for safe childbirth, visit the flower temple, and explore antiques

🌸 Kamakura Daigyo-ji Temple - A Temple of Flowers and Prayers for Safe Childbirth

📍 Basic Information
• Address: 1-9-28 Komachi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
• Access: Approximately a 3-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Kamakura Station
• Admission Fee: Free
• Sect: Nichiren Buddhism
• Also Known as: "Onmesama"
• Best Flowers to See: Eupatorium japonica, cluster amaryllis, primroses, hydrangeas, crape myrtles, camellias, and more, all year round

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🏯 History and Features

Daigyo-ji Temple was originally called "Dairi-koji Nishi-gomon" and is said to have been the residence of Oe Hiromoto, a vassal of Minamoto no Yoritomo. It was founded by Nichiren Buddhist monk Nichihan Shonin in the late Kamakura period.
It is particularly famous for its prayers for safe childbirth, and the name "Onmesama" comes from the "Ubume Reijin," a female birth goddess who protects women in labor. From the Edo period to the present, many expectant mothers have visited the temple to pray for safe childbirth.

Though the temple grounds are small, the flower arrangements are stunning, and rare flowers adorn the approach to the temple with each season. From primroses in spring, crape myrtles in summer, Japanese laurels and spider lilies in autumn, and camellias in winter, the temple offers a different view each time you visit.

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💐 Visit Report

On the way from Kamakura Station to Komachi-dori, just a few minutes away from the bustling streets, you'll find Daikoji Temple enveloped in tranquility.
The approach to the temple is paved with neatly arranged stone paths, flanked by well-maintained flowerbeds. On the day I visited, pale purple hydrangeas bloomed, blending seamlessly into the gentle early summer air.

In front of the main hall, prayer talismans and amulets for safe childbirth were being offered, and pregnant women and their families received prayers with serene expressions. Even in Kamakura, a popular tourist destination, this temple feels like a familiar and important place of prayer for the local community.

On my way back, I returned to Komachi-dori Street and found the area bustling with activity once again. It was a strange sensation, as if the era and atmosphere had shifted in a short distance.

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✅ Travel Tips
• The temple grounds are small, so please pray quietly.
• Check official information or social media in advance for the best flower viewing times.
• As the temple primarily serves as a prayer center for pregnant women, please be considerate when taking photographs.

1. Enjoy the Pine Garden at Daigyo-ji Temple
• Location: About a 3-minute walk from the east exit of Kamakura Station. Despite its proximity to the station, it offers a quiet atmosphere.
• Daigyo-ji Temple is famous as a temple for praying for safe childbirth, but its grounds also feature a well-maintained garden and pine trees, and seasonal flowers to enjoy.
• It's not large, so you can leisurely explore the grounds in about 10-15 minutes.
→ Go early in the morning for fewer people and softer light, making for great photos.

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2. Antique Hunting (Komachi-dori Street to Wakamiya-oji Area)
• Kamakura is dotted with antique shops and second-hand goods stores, where you might find some great bargains on Japanese and Western antiques.
• Recommended Spots:
• Kottokura Yashiro (antiques, ceramics)
• Kamakura Antique Shop Sosuke (a mix of Scandinavian furniture and Japanese antiques)
• Nichigetsudo Antiques (hanging scrolls, tea ceremony utensils)
• Turning off Komachi-dori Street into the side streets, you'll find many quieter shops with fewer tourists.

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3. Coffee Break
• Between or after your antique hunt, Kamakura also has a wide variety of specialty cafes.
• Examples:
• Café Vivement Dimanche (Specialty coffee and sweets)
• Café Vivement Dimanche (Near Komachi-dori Street, carefully roasted coffee)
• Itsuki Garden (Terrace seating in the mountains, surrounded by greenery)
• Perfect for taking a break while savoring the antiques and temples.

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Sample Itinerary (Half-Day to Full-Day)
1. 10:00 AM: View the pine trees and flowers at Daikoji Temple
2. 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Antique shopping (Komachi-dori Street - side streets)
3. 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunch
4. 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Additional antique shop tour (towards Wakamiya-oji Street)
5. 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Relaxing over coffee