Kencho-ji Temple

Information

Kencho-ji Temple, overlooks Kamakura City all the way to Sagami Bay, was established by the 5th regent of Kamakura shogunate Hojo Tokiyori in 1253. The temple is the first Zen training monastery in Japan and ranks among the most important of Kamakura's medieval Zen temples.
The two-storied gate called Sanmon has a quiet dignity. Further along at the end of the path, steep stairs continue up toward the hill behind the temple grounds. Halfway up is Hanso-bo, a shrine dedicated to a Shinto deity that protects the temple. The temple was burnt down several times by fire and earthquake, and the present buildings were reconstructed by Takuan Soho during the Edo Period (1603 – 1868).

Opening Hours

8:30 - 16:30

Closed

No closing days

Price / Entrance Fee

300 yen (General, Adult)
100 yen (Child)

Access / Public Transport

15 minutes walk from JR Kita-Kamakura Station

Address / Location

8, Yamanochi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa, 247-0062

Tweets

MircoLife Adventure @MircolifeA - 2020-05-25: 'Kenchoji (建長寺, Kenchōji) is the number one of Kamakura's five great Zen temples. The oldest Zen temple in Kamakura… https://t.co/L7IcuO38xB
佐藤直毅 @stonaoki - 2019-06-15: Zazen at Kenchoji Temple in Kita Kamakura
It is a meeting for the general public held twice a week. Even newcomers… https://t.co/7mbs7zn6U8
Josy A @josyishere - 2018-11-16: @RTWreset If you go up onto the roof of the kencho (prefectural government building) you'll get fantastic views.

M… https://t.co/jtnKHs5pqj
JAPAN-PRODUCT.COM @JapanProductCom - 2018-08-30: Japan’s first large-scale Zen and Mindfulness Forum will be held at Kencho-ji, the oldest Zen temple in Japan… https://t.co/UafjB4eaKt
Real JapaneseGardens @RealJapanGarden - 2016-11-11: The garden of Kencho-ji in Kamakura is a wonderful example that a Zen-Garden (the garden in a Zen temple) doesn't... https://t.co/UDZFhq4l9G
Tamara Pendzialek @tamarapendzial3 - 2016-11-03: Mum and I with the Flaming Buddha at Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura, Japan
Haïku @white_haiku - 2016-10-11: when they strike the bell
these gingko leaves are falling -
Temple Kencho-ji

Soseki Natsume
#Soseki #haïku https://t.co/AlQNS2Y7jU
A Walking Man @craigmod - 2016-10-02: Just finished another great year judging the Kencho-ji Zen Hackathon. I wrote up last year's experience here: https://t.co/36E08PYfZR
Leo-Hakuba Tamaki @TamakiLeo - 2016-09-30: Tengu in Kencho Ji, Kamakura 🇯🇵 One of my favorite temple, in one of my favorite city. Will post… https://t.co/HZ0pPCvkSo
Cathy Cawood @cathycawood - 2016-08-01: This cave at Kencho Temple in Kamakura goes right through the rock! https://t.co/u1ykLgp4Z2
Cathy Cawood @cathycawood - 2016-07-26: Kencho-ji Temple in Spring https://t.co/ADXW2AKtoX
Odigo @OdigoTravel - 2016-07-19: The Karamon (Grand Gate) of the Kencho-ji Temple, one of the so-called Five Great Zen Temp… https://t.co/88qHQBbWJF https://t.co/EhFF3iOLRT
Jeffery Plato @PlatoJeffery - 2016-06-23: Mum and I with the Flaming Buddha at Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura, Japan
Sanpai Japan @sanpai_japan - 2016-06-16: Ever been to Kencho-ji Temple? It's a great place to try #zazen #meditation for the first time! Read about it here: https://t.co/YW37rW6QqA
toshi fujiwara/藤原敏史 @toshi_fujiwara - 2016-05-05: The Main Hall of Kencho-Ji Zen Temple/formerly the Mausoleum of Lady Go, wife of Hidetada the 2nd Shogun of... https://t.co/se7qedX6PM
cheryll zenner @cheryllzenn - 2015-11-18: Mum and I with the Flaming Buddha at Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura, Japan
Corinne Zoe @gandyosa1 - 2015-11-12: Kencho-ji Temple -- a Rinzai Zen temple, the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan #templehopping🙏🙏… https://t.co/B4GLW6NhEf
Siqi Shi @CookieShi - 2015-10-31: #theCookieGoestoJapan Colorful Kencho temple at #kamakura #建長寺 #鎌倉 #お寺 #一人旅 #solotravel @Japan_travel_JP @ab_japan https://t.co/sxO7f1aoU7
Siqi Shi @CookieShi - 2015-10-31: #theCookieGoestoJapan colorful kencho #temple at #kamakura #建長寺 #鎌倉#solotravel #一人旅 @Japan_travel_JP @JapanTravelcom https://t.co/SsgqqdpjKE
wilford strawhorn @wilfordstril - 2015-10-31: Mum and I with the Flaming Buddha at Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura, Japan
Marc Nicolas @marcn26 - 2015-10-16: Today, October 16th 2015, the day of my 30th birthday I traveled to Kencho-Ji Temple, the … http://t.co/EcIgMxWU96 http://t.co/2VmTSKZgOv
Isherwood Weylin @IsherwoodWeylin - 2015-09-13: Mum and I with the Flaming Buddha at Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura, Japan
Mika Ueno @mikamika59 - 2015-09-10: Zen Fes, music and zen style festival will be held at Kencho-ji zen temple in Kamakura on Sat. Oct/25. interesting. http://t.co/Wgh7IZCBzF
Sachfield Idora @sachfieldid - 2015-09-09: Mum and I with the Flaming Buddha at Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura, Japan
Atalee Indale @indale_atalee - 2015-07-27: Mum and I with the Flaming Buddha at Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura, Japan
Chillerton @jellybeanswtha1 - 2015-07-06: Mum and I with the Flaming Buddha at Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura, Japan
鎌倉ウェルカムガイド @KWGA93 - 2015-07-04: July 4th,2015, KWGA received tourist visitors from Myanmar, who visited Kencho ji Buddhist temple, Hachiman... http://t.co/rENpHxjbF6
Zoe Horn Haywood @zoehgd - 2015-04-25: Mum and I with the Flaming Buddha at Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura, Japan https://t.co/nAI9aU10xO
Miho @mihoara - 2015-04-09: Just posted a photo @ Kencho-ji Temple, Kamakura https://t.co/31sdM0mAhZ
Emilio Esquinca @emilyskink - 2015-04-08: At The Kencho-ji Temple!! #Kamakura #Japan #traveler https://t.co/CikrAVcIw6