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Engaku-ji Temple, Kamakura

The two-storey wooden Sanmon gate of Engaku-ji in Kita-Kamakura, with steps and halls seen through it
Photo: Akonnchiroll, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
¥500; schoolchildren ¥200
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Hours
8:30–16:30
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Winter
December–February until 16:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Highlights
Sanmon gate, Ogane bell, Shariden
Best time
Maples — around early December
Getting there
JR to Kita-Kamakura, 1 minute on foot
Coordinates
35.33770, 139.54750YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

1282the year regent Hojo Tokimune founded the temple
Sourcejapan-guide.com
No. 2of Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples
Sourcejapan-guide.com
1783the year the Sanmon gate was built
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Sharidena hall with a relic of the Buddha — a National Treasure
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Oganethe great bell — a National Treasure
Sourcejapan-guide.com
¥500adult entry
Sourceengakuji.or.jp
1 minuteon foot from Kita-Kamakura station
Sourceengakuji.or.jp
Rinzaithe school of Zen Buddhism
Sourceengakuji.or.jp

What is Engaku-ji?

Engaku-ji is one of eastern Japan's leading Zen temples and the second of Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples. It was founded by the ruling regent Hojo Tokimune in 1282. It belongs to the Rinzai school and today heads one of its branches.

Its halls stand along a wooded valley: from the gate by the station the path climbs to the massive Sanmon gate of 1783, beyond which is the main Butsuden hall with a wooden statue of the Shaka Buddha, and deeper in, the Shariden hall, which holds a relic of the Buddha. Both the Shariden and the temple's great bell are National Treasures.

Tickets and hours

According to the official site, entry is ¥500 for adults (from high-school age) and ¥200 for elementary and junior-high pupils. The temple opens 8:30 to 16:30, and from December to February until 16:00.

For most of the year the Shariden hall can only be seen from a distance, through a gate; it opens to visitors only a few days a year — usually in early November and at New Year. The temple is a working monastery that holds Zen meditation sessions, including for beginners.

What to see

  • The Sanmon gate of 1783.
  • The Butsuden with its Shaka Buddha statue.
  • The Shariden hall — a National Treasure.
  • The great Ogane bell on the hill.
  • The tea house by the bell.
  • Maples at the entrance and in the valley.

How to get to Engaku-ji

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Where are you starting from?

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On foot

More tips

  1. JR Yokosuka line — to Kita-Kamakura, the stop before Kamakura, then 1 minute on foot.
  2. From Tokyo — about an hour on the Yokosuka line.
  3. From Kamakura Station — one stop on JR, about 3 minutes.
  4. To Kencho-ji — about 15 minutes on foot.
  5. To Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — about 25 minutes on foot.

Engaku-ji or Kencho-ji

Engaku-jiyou are hereSecond of five1 minuteSlopes, bell, maples¥500
Kencho-jiFirst of five15–20 minutesDragon, garden, a view from above≈ ¥500

How long do you need?

An hour is enough for Engaku-ji: climb through the Sanmon gate to the Butsuden, walk deeper into the valley to the Shariden, and up to the bell and tea house. With a tea stop, an hour and a half.

The temple is right by the station, so it makes a good first stop of the day: get off at Kita-Kamakura, see Engaku-ji, walk on to Kencho-ji and then on foot to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and Komachi-dori.

Engaku-ji is one of Kamakura's best places for autumn maples: they usually peak around early December, later than in Kyoto. The maple-framed entrance by the station is especially lovely. Cherry blossom blooms in spring and hydrangeas in June.

Is Engaku-ji worth visiting?

Yes: it's a large, calm Zen monastery in the forest, a minute from the station, with some of Kamakura's finest maples.

The YesGo take: the most famous hall, the Shariden, can only be seen from afar for most of the year, which is a shame. But the temple's atmosphere on its slopes, the bell on the hill and tea with a view are worth the visit. If you only have time for one temple in Kita-Kamakura, choose Engaku-ji — it's right by the station.

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Kamakura temples: compare and choose

Temples and shrines in Kamakura rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)4640 min¥30044 min walk
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine441 hFree26 min walk
Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine4430 minFree25 min walk
Sasuke Inari Shrine4330 minFree29 min walk
Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)3845 min≈ ¥4002.7 km
Kenchō-ji Temple381 h≈ ¥50017 min walk
Engaku-ji Templeyou are here371 h¥500—
Hase-dera Temple351 h 15 min¥4003.1 km
Enoshima Island343 hfree; tower and caves ≈ ¥5007.4 km

Kita-Kamakura in half a day

Engaku-ji by the station in the morning, then Kencho-ji and the climb to Hansobo, and on foot to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Engaku-ji Templeyou are here1 h · ¥500
  2. 17 min walk from the previous stopKenchō-ji Temple1 h · ≈ ¥500
  3. 11 min walk from the previous stopTsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine1 h · free

3 places · about 3 h 28 min with walks · 28 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Kenchō-ji Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h · ≈ ¥500 · 17 min walk

Sasuke Inari Shrine

Kamakura, Japan

30 min · free · 29 min walk

How to do it right

  • The temple is a minute from the station.
  • Climb to the Ogane bell.
  • Maples — around early December.
  • Winter — until 16:00.
  • Next: Kencho-ji.

Questions

How much is entry to Engaku-ji?

¥500 for adults, ¥200 for schoolchildren.

What are the opening hours?

8:30–16:30; until 16:00 from December to February.

When was the temple founded?

In 1282, by the regent Hojo Tokimune.

Can I enter the Shariden?

Usually not — only on special opening days.

How do I get there?

JR to Kita-Kamakura, 1 minute on foot.

When are the maples best?

Usually around early December.

How long do you need?

About an hour.

What's nearby?

Kencho-ji and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Temple official site (engakuji.or.jp) — hours, prices, access, address (checked 09.11.2026)
  • japan-guide.com — founding, halls, bell, tea house, maples (via curl 09.11.2026; unofficial)
  • English Wikipedia: Engaku-ji
  • Wikidata Q954860 — coordinates
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedHours, prices and access are from the temple's official site. The founding year, halls, bell and maples are from japan-guide.com; we don't cover the reason for its founding or the halls' rebuilding. Time needed is the YesGo estimate.

Top YesGo picks: Kamakura

Hase-dera Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h 15 min · ¥400

Enoshima Island

Kamakura, Japan

3 h · free; tower and caves ≈ ¥500

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