Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-07 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Kenchō-ji in Kamakura is a Rinzai Zen temple that ranks first among Kamakura's Five Mountains and is the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan. It was founded by the Song-dynasty Chinese monk Lanxi Daolong (Rankei Dōryū) at the invitation of Hōjō Tokiyori, built on the orders of Emperor Go-Fukakusa, and completed in 1253, the fifth year of the Kenchō era, from which it takes its name. Its mountain name is Kofukusan. It is still very large, and originally had a full set of seven main halls and 49 sub-temples.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is about 600 m away in a straight line and Engaku-ji about 1 km. Kita-Kamakura Station on the Yokosuka Line is about 1.1 km off. We have not checked opening hours or fees.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Kencho-ji 108599196 ac1ef7203f o — Steve Cadman, Flickr user stevecadman · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · resized
- Shojoken - Kamakura 0２ — Quercus acuta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Kenchō-ji - Bell tower — Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Kenchoji Sanmon 2009 — Wiiii · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- KenchojiKaramon20111224 — 三人日 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Kencho ji BuildingII — Tarourashima · Public domain · source · resized
- Kamakura Kencho-ji Hatto Innen 4 — Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Kenchoji Main Complex — Tarourashima · Public domain · source · resized
- 建長寺の庭園 — Tsuyoshi chiba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 建長寺仏殿内部 — Tsuyoshi chiba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Kenchō-ji (建長寺) is a Rinzai Zen temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, which ranks first among Kamakura's so-called Five Great Zen Temples (the Kamakura Gozan) and is the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan. These temples were at the top of the Five Mountain System, a network of Zen temples started by the Hōjō Regents. Still very large, it originally had a full shichidō garan and 49 subtemples. It was founded by Chinese monk Lanxi Daolong, also known as Rankei Doryū, of the Song dynasty at the invitation of Hōjō Tokiyori. The temple was constructed on the orders of Emperor Go-Fukakusa and completed in 1253, fifth year of the Kenchō era, from which it takes its name. The sangō is Kofukusan (巨福山).
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-07 · Official visitor information · Official visitor information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Nearby station
Nearby station: Kita-Kamakura (Yokosuka Line), about 1.1 km from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
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