Kenchoji Temple Tourism

Kenchoji Temple is a historic Zen Buddhist temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 1253 by the Chinese Zen master, Rankei Doryu, under the patronage of Hojo Tokiyori, the fifth regent of the Kamakura shogunate, Kenchoji is the first Zen monastery in Japan and leads the Five Great Zen Temples of Kamakura. Its grounds encompass a large complex with multiple subtemples and a well-maintained garden. Key attractions include the Sanmon main gate, which is designated as an Important Cultural Property, the Butsuden Hall with its seated figure of Jizo Bodhisattva, the Hatto (lecture hall) featuring a dragon painting on the ceiling, and the Zen garden with the symbolic mountain Myojo-yama. Kenchoji has also played a significant role in spreading Zen culture in Japan, including tea ceremony, flower arranging, and martial arts. Visitors can experience Zen meditation sessions, enjoy the serene atmosphere, and explore the temple's rich history reflecting the fusion of Chinese Zen and Japanese culture.