Kenchoji Temple
巨福山 建長寺 · Buddhist temple
The Kamakura City Tourist Association records that Kenchoji Temple ranks first among Kamakura's five great Zen temples and is the head temple of the Rinzai Kenchoji school, that Rankei Doryu, a monk from China, taught Zen here, and that the shogunate had a strong connection with the temple.
The association records that the principal image is a seated Jizo Bosatsu, and that the triple gate, the Buddha hall and the lecture hall stand in a straight line from the entrance to the precinct. It also names a large Chinese juniper grown from a seed sown by Doryu, and states that a Zen meditation session open to all is held on Fridays and Saturdays. The sanmon gate is on the national cultural property register.
Hours
The times below are the times published by the temple.
| Temple open | 8:30–16:30Kencho-ji — access, hours and admission (official site) |
|---|
Admission
| Adults (high school students and above) | 500 yen |
|---|---|
| Children (elementary and junior high school students) | 200 yen |
Getting there
- JR Kita-Kamakura Station — about 15 minutes on foot
- JR Kamakura Station, east exit — about 30 minutes on foot
- From bus stop 2 at the east exit of JR Kamakura Station, take the bus bound for Kenchoji or Ofuna Station and get off at Kenchoji
Address: 8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City
Sources
| History and background, What you can see | Kamakura City Tourist Association — Kenchoji Temple |
|---|---|
| Temple open, Admission, Getting there | Kencho-ji — access, hours and admission (official site) |
Information checked: September 9, 2026.