# Engaku-ji Temple, Kamakura

> Engaku-ji is one of eastern Japan's leading Zen temples and the second of Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples, founded in 1282. It climbs the wooded slopes right by Kita-Kamakura station. Entry is ¥500, or ¥200 for schoolchildren. It opens 8:30–16:30, and until 16:00 from December to February. It's 1 minute on foot from the station.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/engaku-ji

- City: [Kamakura](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura), Japan
- YesGo score: 37/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 1 h
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entry: ¥500; schoolchildren ¥200
- Hours: 8:30–16:30
- Winter: December–February until 16:00
- 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, 139.54750
- Facts checked: 09.11.2026

## Key facts

- **1282** — the year regent Hojo Tokimune founded the temple (source: japan-guide.com)
- **No. 2** — of Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples (source: japan-guide.com)
- **1783** — the year the Sanmon gate was built (source: japan-guide.com)
- **Shariden** — a hall with a relic of the Buddha — a National Treasure (source: japan-guide.com)
- **Ogane** — the great bell — a National Treasure (source: japan-guide.com)
- **¥500** — adult entry (source: engakuji.or.jp)
- **1 minute** — on foot from Kita-Kamakura station (source: engakuji.or.jp)
- **Rinzai** — the school of Zen Buddhism (source: engakuji.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**.

> **Tea by the great bell** Take the stairs to the right of the entrance up the hill to the great Ogane bell, a National Treasure. Beside it is a small tea house serving tea, sweet amazake and Japanese sweets with a view over the valley. It's the quietest spot in the temple, and not everyone makes it up.

## 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

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-ji | Kencho-ji |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rank | Second of five | First of five |
| From the station | 1 minute | 15–20 minutes |
| Highlights | Slopes, bell, maples | Dragon, garden, a view from above |
| Entry | ¥500 | ≈ ¥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.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] ¥500 for entry
- [ ] Winter — until 16:00
- [ ] The climb to the Ogane bell
- [ ] Tea in the hill tea house
- [ ] Kencho-ji next on the way

## Kamakura temples: compare and choose

Temples and shrines in Kamakura rated by YesGo.

- [Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-great-buddha) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · ¥300
- [Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/tsurugaoka-hachimangu) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free
- [Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/zeniarai-benzaiten) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free
- [Sasuke Inari Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/sasuke-inari) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free
- [Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/hokoku-ji) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ≈ ¥400
- [Kenchō-ji Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kencho-ji) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ ¥500
- [Engaku-ji Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/engaku-ji) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥500
- [Hase-dera Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-hase-dera) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥400
- [Enoshima Island](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/enoshima) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free; tower and caves ≈ ¥500

## 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 Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/engaku-ji) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥500
2. [Kenchō-ji Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kencho-ji) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ ¥500
3. [Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/tsurugaoka-hachimangu) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free

## Good to know

Engaku-ji in Kita-Kamakura is not the temple of the same name in Shuri, Okinawa. It's also written Engakuji.

## Tips

- The temple is a minute from the station.
- Climb to the Ogane bell.
- Maples — around early December.
- Winter — until 16:00.
- Next: [Kencho-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/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.

## How we checked

Hours, 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.

## Sources

- 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

---

This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.