About Jouchi temple
Jōji-ji is a Zen temple belonging to the Yuanjueji school of the Rinzai sect, and is the fourth of the Five Great Zen Temples of Kamakura. After the death of Hojo Munemasa, the third son of Hojo Tokiyori, the fifth regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, around 1281, Munemasa’s wife founded the temple with her late husband Munemasa and his son Shishi as its founders.
From the late Kamakura period to the heyday of the early Muromachi period, there were many pagodas built here, including seven garanas. However, it gradually went into decline. The present temple was rebuilt after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. When you climb up the stone steps of the Sento surrounded by trees, you are greeted by a Chinese style bell tower gate with a Buddhist bell hanging from the top. This is a rare style in Kamakura. Deep inside the bell tower gate, there is a Buddhist temple known as the Zenkha-den, which houses the statue of the main Buddha, the Third Buddha.
From the left, there are Amitabha Buddha, Sakyamuni Buddha and Maitreya Buddha, each representing the past, present and future. Surrounded by a natural forest of plum trees, cherry trees, cedar trees and cypresses, this is a Zen world where all is silent.
How to get there
About 10 minutes walk from Kitakamakura Station
1402 Yamanouchi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa
Tips
One of the most famous temples in Kamakura area
Jyoji Temple is located close to Akatsuki-in Temple and Seonjakuji Temple, and it is only a 10-minute walk from Kitakamakura Station. The temple itself is so small that it is easily overlooked, so there are few visitors, and it is particularly quiet. However, under the shade of greenery, the tranquility and refinement of Jyoteiji Temple is highlighted, and it is particularly elegant.
The overall feeling is relatively quiet, and the Zephyr hydrangea at the entrance is very large.
Jyoji Temple is a Zen temple belonging to the Yuanjueji school of Rinzai Buddhism. When you climb up the stone steps of the Sento temple surrounded by trees, you will be greeted by a Chinese style bell tower gate with a Buddhist bell hanging from the top. This is a rare style in Kamakura. Deep inside the bell tower gate, there is a Buddhist temple known as the Design Hall, which houses a statue of the main Buddha, the Third Buddha.
Fare
Adults 200 yen, children 100 yen
Opening hours
9:00-16:30
It is a Zen temple belonging to the Yuanjueji school of the Rinzai sect, and is the fourth of the Five Great Zen Temples of Kamakura. Around 1281, after the death of Hojo Munemasa, the third son of Hojo Tokiyori, the fifth regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, Munemasa’s wife took her late husband, Munemasa, as her father. When you climb up the stone steps of the Sento, which is surrounded by trees, you are greeted by a Chinese style bell tower gate with a Buddhist bell hanging from the top. This is a rare style in Kamakura.
It is the fourth of the five mountains in Kamakura and has a statue of Maitreya, fondly known by locals as the “Budaijin”, one of the seven gods of good fortune in Japanese tradition, whose belly is said to be touched for good fortune and luck.
This temple is very quiet, almost no tourists, beautiful cherry blossoms, and many crows live here.
