# Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura

> Kencho-ji is Kamakura's oldest Zen temple and the first of its Five Great Zen Temples, founded in 1253. It has huge wooden gates, a hall with a dragon painted on the ceiling, a garden behind the main hall and a trail uphill to a viewpoint with Mount Fuji. Entry is about ¥500, open roughly 8:30–16:30. It's 15–20 minutes on foot from Kita-Kamakura station.

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

- City: [Kamakura](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura), Japan
- YesGo score: 38/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 1 h
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entry: About ¥500
- Hours: Roughly 8:30–16:30
- Closed: Open every day
- 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, 139.55535
- Facts checked: 09.11.2026

## Key facts

- **1253** — the year regent Hojo Tokiyori founded the temple (source: japan-guide.com)
- **No. 1** — of Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples (source: japan-guide.com)
- **Oldest** — Zen temple in Kamakura (source: japan-guide.com)
- **Rinzai** — the school of Zen Buddhism (source: japan-guide.com)
- **Hatto** — the largest wooden temple building in eastern Japan (source: japan-guide.com)
- **The bell** — is a National Treasure (source: japan-guide.com)
- **Muso Kokushi** — the Zen master who designed the garden behind the Hojo (source: japan-guide.com)
- **≈ ¥500** — entry (source: japan-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.

> **Climb to Hansobo** Few people reach the upper part of the temple, and they're missing out: in 15–20 minutes of paths and stairs you climb to Hansobo, the temple's guardian shrine, with a small viewing deck — on clear days you can see Mount Fuji. Five more minutes up is a second deck overlooking the whole temple and Kamakura. The Ten'en hiking trail through the northern hills starts here.

## 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

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

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] About ¥500 for entry
- [ ] Comfortable shoes — the climb to Hansobo
- [ ] Clear weather — for Fuji
- [ ] Last entry 16:30
- [ ] Engaku-ji 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
- [Kenchō-ji Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kencho-ji) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ ¥500
- [Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/hokoku-ji) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ≈ ¥400
- [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

Kencho-ji in Kamakura is not temples of the same name in other cities. It's also written Kenchoji.

## Tips

- Climb to Hansobo.
- Fuji is visible on clear days.
- Find the dragon on the Hatto ceiling.
- Last entry 16:30.
- Nearby: [Engaku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/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.

## How we checked

The 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.

## Sources

- japan-guide.com — history, halls, garden, Hansobo, trail, hours, price, access (via curl 09.11.2026; unofficial)
- English Wikipedia: Kenchō-ji
- Wikidata Q1396078 — coordinates

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