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Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura

Wooden Butsuden and Hatto halls of Kencho-ji in Kamakura along a wide paved courtyard with wooded hills behind
Photo: Tarourashima, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
About ¥500
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Roughly 8:30–16:30
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Closed
Open every day
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Highlights
Dragon ceiling, garden, Sanmon gate
Viewpoint
By Hansobo shrine, 15–20 minutes up
Getting there
15–20 minutes from Kita-Kamakura, 15 minutes from Hachimangu
Coordinates
35.33179, 139.55535YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

1253the year regent Hojo Tokiyori founded the temple
Sourcejapan-guide.com
No. 1of Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples
Sourcejapan-guide.com
OldestZen temple in Kamakura
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Rinzaithe school of Zen Buddhism
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Hattothe largest wooden temple building in eastern Japan
Sourcejapan-guide.com
The bellis a National Treasure
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Muso Kokushithe Zen master who designed the garden behind the Hojo
Sourcejapan-guide.com
≈ ¥500entry
Sourcejapan-guide.com

What is Kencho-ji?

Kencho-ji is the first of Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples and the city's oldest Zen temple. It was founded by the ruling regent Hojo Tokiyori in 1253, in the Kencho era after which it's named; its first head priest was a monk from China. It belongs to the Rinzai school.

The temple is smaller today than at its height, but still huge: from the gate at the bottom of the valley its halls and sub-temples climb far into the wooded hills. Beyond the Sanmon gate are the bell, a National Treasure, the Butsuden with its Jizo statue, and the Hatto — the largest wooden temple building in eastern Japan.

Tickets and hours

According to guides, entry is about ¥500, and the temple opens roughly 8:30 to 16:30 every day. The temple's official site didn't return hours or prices from our server, so check before you go.

The main Hojo hall was once the head priest's residence; behind it lies a quiet garden with a pond, said to be the work of Zen master Muso Kokushi. A huge dragon is painted on the ceiling of the Hatto, which houses a statue of Kannon.

What to see

  • The Sanmon gate — a huge wooden gate.
  • The bell — a National Treasure.
  • The Hatto hall with its dragon ceiling.
  • The garden behind the Hojo with its pond.
  • Hansobo shrine and the viewpoints.
  • The Ten'en trail through the northern hills.

How to get to Kencho-ji

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Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

More tips

  1. From Kita-Kamakura — JR Yokosuka line, the stop before Kamakura, then 15–20 minutes on foot.
  2. From Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — about 15 minutes on foot north.
  3. From Engaku-ji — about 15 minutes on foot.
  4. From Tokyo — JR Yokosuka line to Kita-Kamakura, about an hour.
  5. Bus — from Kamakura Station to the Kenchoji stop.

Kencho-ji or Engaku-ji

Kencho-jiyou are hereFirst of fiveDragon, garden, a view from above15–20 minutes≈ ¥500
Engaku-jiSecond of fiveSlopes, maples, a great bell1 minute¥500

How long do you need?

An hour is enough for the main halls and garden; with the climb to Hansobo and its viewpoints, about one and a half to two. Kencho-ji fits neatly between Engaku-ji by Kita-Kamakura station and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine: the road between them passes the temple gate.

The climb to Hansobo is a long staircase through forest — wear comfortable shoes. In autumn the slopes around the temple turn red with maples, and in spring cherry trees bloom by the Sanmon gate.

The temple is still a working monastery where zazen meditation is practised. Sessions are sometimes open to visitors — ask on site or check the temple's website for the schedule.

Is Kencho-ji worth visiting?

Yes: it's Kamakura's best example of a great Zen monastery — huge halls, a garden and a view from above.

The YesGo take: many people stop at the lower halls and leave without climbing to Hansobo. If you have the energy, do climb: the view of Kamakura and Fuji is this temple's best reward. If time is short, choose one of the two — Kencho-ji or Engaku-ji.

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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¥30042 min walk
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine441 hFree11 min walk
Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine4430 minFree24 min walk
Sasuke Inari Shrine4330 minFree30 min walk
Kenchō-ji Templeyou are here381 h≈ ¥500—
Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)3845 min≈ ¥40031 min walk
Engaku-ji Temple371 h¥50017 min walk
Hase-dera Temple351 h 15 min¥4003.0 km
Enoshima Island343 hfree; tower and caves ≈ ¥5007.7 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 Temple1 h · ¥500
  2. 17 min walk from the previous stopKenchō-ji Templeyou are here1 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

Engaku-ji Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h · ¥500 · 17 min walk

Komachi-dori Street

Kamakura, Japan

45 min · free · 20 min walk

How to do it right

  • Climb to Hansobo.
  • Fuji is visible on clear days.
  • Find the dragon on the Hatto ceiling.
  • Last entry 16:30.
  • Nearby: Engaku-ji.

Questions

How much is entry to Kencho-ji?

About ¥500, according to guides.

What are the opening hours?

Roughly 8:30–16:30, every day.

When was the temple founded?

In 1253, by the regent Hojo Tokiyori.

What should I see?

The Sanmon gate, the Hatto with its dragon, the garden and the Hansobo viewpoint.

How do I get there?

15–20 minutes on foot from Kita-Kamakura station.

How long do you need?

An hour; one and a half to two with the climb to Hansobo.

Can you see Fuji?

Yes, from the Hansobo viewpoint on clear days.

What's nearby?

Engaku-ji and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • japan-guide.com — history, halls, garden, Hansobo, trail, hours, price, access (via curl 09.11.2026; unofficial)
  • English Wikipedia: Kenchō-ji
  • Wikidata Q1396078 — coordinates
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThe official site didn't return hours or prices, so the history, halls, hours, price and access are from japan-guide.com; hours and price are marked 'being checked'. 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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