# Hokoku-ji Temple, Kamakura

> Hokoku-ji is a small Zen temple in the hills of eastern Kamakura, known as the 'bamboo temple'. Behind its main hall grows a grove of over 2,000 bamboo stalks, and a tea house inside it serves matcha. Entry to the bamboo garden is about ¥400, with tea about ¥600 more. It opens roughly 9:00–16:00. It's 10 minutes by bus from Kamakura Station.

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

- City: [Kamakura](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura), Japan
- YesGo score: 38/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 45 min
- Entry: ≈ ¥400
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Bamboo garden: About ¥400
- Matcha in the grove: About ¥600 more
- Hours: Roughly 9:00–16:00
- Closed: 29 December–3 January
- Highlight: A grove of 2,000+ bamboo stalks
- Getting there: Bus 23, 24 or 36 to Jomyoji, 10 minutes
- Coordinates: 35.31939, 139.56781
- Facts checked: 09.11.2026

## Key facts

- **2,000+** — moso bamboo stalks in the grove behind the main hall (source: japan-guide.com)
- **Rinzai** — the Zen school the temple belongs to (source: japan-guide.com)
- **Muromachi** — the era of its founding — the 14th century (source: japan-guide.com)
- **Ashikaga** — the shogun clan whose family temple it was (source: japan-guide.com)
- **Matcha** — served in a tea house inside the grove (source: japan-guide.com)
- **≈ ¥400** — entry to the bamboo garden (source: japan-guide.com)
- **Thatched roof** — on the bell tower beside the main hall (source: japan-guide.com)
- **10 minutes** — by bus from Kamakura Station (source: japan-guide.com)

## What is Hokoku-ji?

**Hokoku-ji** is a small temple of the **Rinzai** school of Zen in the quiet hills of eastern Kamakura. It was founded early in the **Muromachi** period, in the 14th century, and was the family temple of the **Ashikaga** clan — the shoguns who ruled Japan for two and a half centuries.

From the street the temple looks modest: a gate, a small garden, the main hall and a bell tower with a **thatched roof**. But behind the main hall begins what people come for — a **bamboo grove** of more than 2,000 tall, dark-green moso stalks. Narrow paths lead through it to a tea house.

> **Have matcha among the bamboo** In the tea house inside the grove, for an extra fee — about ¥600 according to guides — you're served a bowl of matcha with a sweet. Sit facing the bamboo and take your time: you can hear the stalks rustle in the wind. It's the most peaceful pause of a day in Kamakura.

## Entry and hours

According to guides, entry to the bamboo garden is **about ¥400**, and it opens roughly **9:00 to 16:00**; it's closed from 29 December to 3 January. Tea in the tea house costs extra.

The grove is small — you can walk through it in about ten minutes — so the place is about silence and light rather than scale. It's best at opening, before the groups: sunlight filters through the bamboo and the paths are empty.

## What to see

- **The bamboo grove** of 2,000+ moso stalks.
- **The tea house** serving matcha inside the grove.
- **The main hall** with its Shaka Buddha statue.
- **The bell tower** under a thatched roof.
- **Narrow paths** through the grove.
- **Moss and stone lanterns** among the bamboo.

## How to get to Hokoku-ji

1. **Bus** — from the east exit of Kamakura Station, routes 23, 24 or 36 to Jomyoji, about 10 minutes, then 3 minutes on foot.
2. **On foot from the station** — about 30–40 minutes east.
3. **From Tsurugaoka Hachimangu** — about 30 minutes on foot.
4. **Nearby** — Jomyo-ji temple at the same bus stop.
5. **From Tokyo** — JR Yokosuka line to Kamakura, about an hour.

## Hokoku-ji or the Arashiyama bamboo grove

|  | Hokoku-ji | Arashiyama |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Size | A small temple grove | A long path through forest |
| Entry | ≈ ¥400 | Free |
| Crowds | Fewer | Very many |
| Special | Matcha inside the grove | Scenery and a river nearby |

## How long do you need?

**45 minutes to an hour** is enough for the temple with tea. It lies away from Kamakura's main sights, so it pairs well with neighbouring **Jomyo-ji** temple, then back to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu on foot or by bus.

Bamboo is green all year, so any season works. In autumn the maples by the main hall turn red, and in the rain the grove is especially quiet and fresh.

Moso is Japan's largest bamboo: its stalks grow to 20 metres and more, and beneath them there's a green half-light even on a sunny day. In spring you can watch young shoots shooting up almost before your eyes.

## Is Hokoku-ji worth visiting?

Yes: it's Kamakura's most atmospheric and peaceful spot, and a bowl of matcha in a bamboo grove stays with you.

The YesGo take: the grove is much smaller than Kyoto's famous Arashiyama, and at weekends the paths fill up. If you've been to Arashiyama, Hokoku-ji may seem tiny. But for a calm break and tea it's the best place in town — come on a weekday morning.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] About ¥400 for the garden
- [ ] About ¥600 more for matcha
- [ ] Arrive at opening
- [ ] Bus to Jomyoji
- [ ] Entry until 16:00

## 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

## Eastern Kamakura in half a day

The bamboo grove and matcha at Hokoku-ji in the morning, then Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, and lunch on Komachi-dori. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

1. [Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/hokoku-ji) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ≈ ¥400
2. [Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/tsurugaoka-hachimangu) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free
3. [Komachi-dori Street](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/komachi-dori) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free

## Good to know

Hokoku-ji in Kamakura is not the Arashiyama bamboo grove in Kyoto or temples of the same name elsewhere. It's also written Hokokuji.

## Tips

- Come at opening.
- Matcha in the grove — about ¥600.
- Take the bus to Jomyoji.
- Jomyo-ji temple is next door.
- Back to [Tsurugaoka Hachimangu](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/tsurugaoka-hachimangu).

## Questions

### How much is entry to Hokoku-ji?

About ¥400 for the bamboo garden; tea about ¥600 more.

### What are the opening hours?

Roughly 9:00–16:00; closed 29 December–3 January.

### How much bamboo is there?

More than 2,000 moso bamboo stalks.

### Can I have tea?

Yes, matcha in the tea house inside the grove.

### How do I get there?

Bus 23, 24 or 36 from Kamakura Station to Jomyoji, about 10 minutes.

### How long do you need?

45 minutes to an hour.

### How is it different from Arashiyama?

The grove is smaller but quieter, and matcha is served in it.

### What's nearby?

Jomyo-ji temple.

## How we checked

History, the grove, prices, hours and access are from japan-guide.com and marked 'being checked'. We don't cover the temple's losses and rebuildings. Time needed is the YesGo estimate.

## Sources

- japan-guide.com — history, grove, tea house, bell tower, hours, prices, buses (via curl 09.11.2026; unofficial)
- English Wikipedia: Hōkoku-ji
- Wikidata Q3146363; coordinates from the map

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