Note: This is a provisional (unofficial) English translation of the Japanese page published on our Japanese site (Japanese original). The Japanese original takes precedence. The translation may be revised without notice.
Kochi-zan Kencho Kokuon Zen-ji (巨福山 建長興国禅寺), commonly known as Kencho-ji (建長寺), is a temple in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture. This article covers its sect, principal image, history, access and more.
Basic information
| Temple name | Kochi-zan Kencho Kokuon Zen-ji (commonly Kencho-ji) |
|---|---|
| Mountain name (sango) | Kochi-zan |
| Sect | Rinzai sect, Kenchoji branch (head temple; first of the Kamakura Five Mountains) |
| Principal image (honzon) | Jizo Bosatsu |
| Address | Yamanouchi 8, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture |
History
- 1253 (Kencho 5): Hojo Tokiyori founded the temple, and Lanxi Daoxing (蘭渓道隆), a Zen monk from the Southern Song, became its founding abbot (kaisan).
- 1293 (Shoo 6): Most of the buildings collapsed in a major earthquake in Kamakura. Ichisan Ichinei (一山一寧), who had come from Yuan China, oversaw the reconstruction.
- 1923 (Taisho 12): The temple suffered heavy damage in the Great Kanto Earthquake.
The bell and the Portrait of Lanxi Daoxing (絹本淡彩蘭渓道隆像), a painting in light color on silk, are among the National Treasures. The grounds were designated a National Historic Site in 1966.
Visitor tips
The temple’s layout is distinctive, with the Sanmon (main gate), Butsuden (Buddha hall), Hatto (Dharma hall) and Hojo (abbot’s quarters) lined up in a straight line. Farther inside is Hanso-bo (半僧坊), the temple’s guardian shrine.
Visiting guide (fees, hours, parking, etc.)
| Admission fee | Adults (high school age and above): 500 yen. Children (elementary and junior high school): 200 yen. Some older sources give 300 yen and 100 yen. |
|---|---|
| Visiting hours | Most sources give 8:30–16:30. |
| Goshuin (temple seal) | 500 yen per seal at the goshuin office (some articles give 300 yen). Visitors leave their goshuin book (goshuincho) at the goshuin office on the left after entering the Somon (outer gate) and collect it after the visit. |
| Parking | A dedicated lot in front of the Somon has space for 20 passenger cars and 5 buses. Reservations are not accepted. Passenger cars pay 600 yen for the first hour, then are charged in 30-minute increments. |
This guide is based on information from each source as of September 19, 2026. Fees, hours and events may change. Please check the latest information with the temple or tourism association before visiting.
Access and map
About 20 minutes on foot from Kita-Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line. About 30 minutes on foot from Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line and the Enoden (Enoshima Electric Railway). Get off at the Kencho-ji stop on the Enoden bus, which is right in front of the temple.
Other temples in Kanagawa Prefecture
- Engaku-ji (円覚寺)
- Kotoku-in (高徳院, Kamakura Daibutsu)
- Hase-dera (長谷寺, Kamakura)
- Meigetsu-in (明月院)
- Jufuku-ji (寿福寺)
- Kawasaki Daishi (川崎大師, Heiman-ji 平間寺)
For ancestor researchers
If you are looking for a family temple (bodai-ji) or a necrology register (kakocho), see also the list of temples in Kanagawa Prefecture (by municipality).
