Komyoji Temple

Komyoji is one of the principal temples of the Jōdo (Pure Land) sect of Buddhism, founded in 1243 during the Kamakura period. It was established by Hōjō Tsunetoki, the fourth regent (shikken) of the Kamakura shogunate, together with its founding abbot, Ryōchū Shōnin, who is regarded as the third patriarch of the Jōdo sect. The temple is also the birthplace of the Jūya Hōyō (Ten-Night Memorial Services), an important ritual in the Jōdo tradition. Komyoji preserves the legend of the Taima Mandala, a miraculous mandala said to have been woven overnight by a celestial being. Other notable highlights include the largest temple gate in Kamakura, the Great Hall, currently undergoing the Reiwa-era Grand Restoration, as well as the garden and the Daiseikaku Hall.

Jokomyoji Temple

Jokomyoji is a Kamakura-period temple founded around 1251 by the monk Shinna Oshō, with patronage from Hōjō Tokiyori, the fifth regent of the Kamakura shogunate, and Hōjō Nagatoki, the sixth regent. The temple is renowned for its Buddhist statues adorned with decorative techniques unique to medieval Kamakura. Notable highlights include one of the largest stone five-ring pagodas (gorintō) in Japan, the grave of the poet Reizei Tamezane, and—most intriguingly—the graves of successive chief Shinto priests of Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, an unusual and revealing feature for a Buddhist temple.

Jochiji Temple

The Zen Buddhist temple Jochiji was founded around 1281 and is ranked fourth among the Five Great Zen Temples of Kamakura. Its grounds are designated a National Historic Site, and both the bell tower gate and the main hall are notable for their Song-dynasty–style architecture. Within the precincts are Kanronoi, also known as the Sweet Dew Well, one of Kamakura’s famous natural springs, as well as a stone drum bridge, stone steps leading into the temple grounds, and a garden dotted with historic structures that convey Kamakura’s long history. Together, these features evoke the refined and timeless atmosphere of Kamakura as an ancient capital.

Jorakuji Temple

The history of Jorakuji Temple spans approximately 830 years. Of note, are five Kamakura era Buddhist statues created by the renowned sculptor Unkei. Commissioned by the warrior Wada Yoshimori and his wife, they were completed in 1189. The principal statues are the Amida Triad, along with the powerful and fearsome figures of Fudō Myōō and Bishamonten. All five are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

Manganji Temple

Manganji was founded as a large monastic training temple and is closely associated with the renowned Miura samurai clan. Once believed to be the family temple (bodaiji) of Sahara Yoshitsura, the youngest son of the great warrior Miura Yoshimei, recent research suggests that it may instead have been established by Minamoto no Yoritomo as a place of homage to the Miura clan as a whole. Among Mangan-ji’s highlights are a Pure Land–style garden and an elegant Zen dry landscape (karesansui) garden. The temple also houses several statues designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan, including a Kannon Bodhisattva statue over 2.4 meters in height, as well as statues of Jizō Bodhisattva, Fudō Myōō, and Bishamonten. In addition, more than 2,000 roof tiles from the Kamakura period have been excavated on the temple grounds, attesting to its former scale and importance.

Manshoji Temple

Manshoji is a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect, established in 1194 by the great samurai Minamoto no Yoritomo to pray for the repose of Miura Yoshimei, a patriarch of the Miura clan who distinguished himself in the military campaigns against the powerful Taira clan. The temple’s treasure hall enshrines a seated statue of Miura Yoshimei, a sacred object of worship designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The grounds also include a Shinto shrine known as Goryō-sha, as well as two stone pagodas—a hōkyōintō and a gorintō—believed to mark the graves of Yoshimei and his wife. Another highlight is the azaleas in front of the main hall, traditionally said to have been planted by Yoritomo himself.