The only nunnery in Kamakura.

Closed Day Thursday
Opening Times 9:00 ~ 16:00
The principle image is  open to the public.

 
 
 
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There is "Amida Buddha" who protects those born in the year of the dog.
There is "Amida Buddha" who protects those born in the year of the pig.
There is "Seishi kannon bodhisattva" who protects those born in the year of the horse.

Honzon (principal image)

Amida Buddha

(If you want to know more about Amida Buddha, Click Here)

Scool jodo school
Founder (a person who provided financial support for the construction of a temple or a well-known person who lent support) Okatsu (later Eishoin or concubine of Tokugawa Ieyasu: wife other than his legal wife, concubine of Tokugawa Ieyasu)
Kaisan (the monk who first founded the temple, the first chief priest) Gyokusui-in (Princess sarahime, the daughter of Tokugawa Yorifusa, to whom Eishoin served as foster mother)
Sangou (the name that is added before the name of the temple) Tokozan
Kamakura 100 Flower Temples, Kamakura No. 6

Spring

ume blossom(January to March)、Shirafuji(April to May)、cherry blossoms(March to April)、Hydrangea(May to July)
Summer  
Fall Red spider lily(September to October)、Holly(October to December)
Winter Daffodil(December to January)
 

 
 
There is Hondo(a main hall) 

In 1636, Eishoin (Okatsu) built Eisho-ji Temple.

 

Eishoin is said to be the daughter of Yasusuke Ota, the fourth head of Dokan Ota (Ⓐ).
She was a concubine (not the legal wife) of Ieyasu Tokugawa (Ⓑ)
and. She also served as the foster mother of Yorifusa Tokugawa (Ⓒ), the first head of the Mito Tokugawa clan.
After Ieyasu's death, she became a nun and changed her name from "Okatsu no Kata " to "Eishoin."

Therefore, it is said that the Ota family and the Tokugawa family have a deep relationship.
Ⓐ The Ota family crest, the bellflower , and Ⓑ the Tokugawa family crest, the three-leaf hollyhock , are engraved on the" Buddha Hall " and " Sanmon Gate." Ⓒ In addition, during the Edo period, princesses of the Mito Tokugawa family served as the chief priests for generations.

① There are carvings of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals under the eaves.
② There is a cicada-shaped metal fitting on the door. 
③④ Inside the building there are auspicious birds , and a colorful picture of a Karyobinga is painted on the ceiling.
➄A plaque with the words "Eishojiki" written by Hayashi Razan (Confucian scholar) hangs on the wall. 

➅The temple is also engraved with the three-leaf hollyhock crest of the Mito Tokugawa clan and the bellflower crest of the Ota clan .

You cannot enter the Buddhist hall. Please view it from the window.
It is a national important cultural property .
(If you want to know more about a national important cultural property , Click Here)

 ① There is the principal image Amida Buddha.

On the left and right of Amida Nyorai are ➀ Kannon Bodhisattva and ➁ Seishi Kannon Bodhisattva.
 (If you want to know more about Amida Buddha, Click Here)

② There is Seishi Kannon Bodhisattva.
(If you want to know more about Seishi Kannon Bodhisattva, Click Here)



③ There is Kannon Bodhisattva.
(If you want to know more about  Kannon Bodhisattva, Click Here)


 

There is Shoro (a bell tower) 

The " Buddha Hall ", " Sanmon Gate " and " Bell Tower " were built in 1643 for the first anniversary of Eisho-in's death .This is the only bell tower in Kamakura built in the Hakamagoshi-zukuri (an architectural style that looks like hakama is being worn) .
The characters engraved on the bell were written by Hayashi Razan (Confucian scholar) .

It is a national important cultural property .
(If you want to know more about national important cultural properties, Click Here)

 


 

There is shido (a hall dedicated to the deity)

It was built in the early Edo period by Tokugawa Mitsukuni (the model for Mito Komon, son of Tokugawa Yorifusa) .
It is a building that enshrines the memorial tablet of Eishoin (also known as Okatsu no Kata) .Eishoin was a well-known figure who provided financial support for the construction of the temple.

You can see colorful decorations, like those seen at Nikko Toshogu Shrine, both inside and outside the shido(a hall  dedicated to the deity).
It is a national important cultural property .
(If you want to know more about national important cultural properties, Click Here)


 

 

There is the Karamon (Chinese-style gate) 

This is the " small gate" in front of the shido (a hall dedicated to the deity).
On the Ranma(transom) you can see " openwork peony flowers on both sides."

It is a national important cultural property .
(If you want to know more about national important cultural properties, Click Here)


 

 

There is So-mon(main gate)

In 1643, the " Buddha Hall", "Sanmon Gate" and "Bell Tower " were built for the first anniversary of Eisho-in's death .
They were built by Matsudaira Yorishige (the son of Tokugawa Yorifusa and the older brother of Tokugawa Mitsukuni).

It is a national important cultural property .
(If you want to know more about national important cultural properties, Click Here)


 

There is Wabisuke.

There is a " Wabisuke" in front of the shrine .
(If you want to know more about Wabisuke, Click Here)

It is a natural monument of Kamakura City .


 

There is trident maple. 

Next to the Sanmon Gate is the " Tokaede " (trident maple).
(If you want to know more about trident maple, Click Here )

It is a natural monument of Kamakura City .


 

There is a bamboo forest. 

There is a bamboo forest on the mountain behind Eishoji Temple .
It is one of the most magnificent bamboo forests you can see in Kamakura.
(If you want to know more about Moso bamboo, Click Here)

There is also a " Shoin " (Japanese-style study room).

When the wisteria starts to bloom in June , you can have tea in the teahouse for 500 yen .

 


There is Konpiraguu shrine.
Sacred Object Kumbhira(a guardian deity of Buddhism)
Divine Blessing Maritime safety,Blessing for a good catch,Fulfillment of heartfelt wishes,Business prosperity,Financial fortune, 

 


There is sho-kanzeon kannon bodhisattva. 

There is a " sho-kanzeon kannon Bodhisattva . "
(If you want to know more about sho-kanzeon kannon Bodhisattva , Click Here)


There is Taishi-do  (hall devoted to Prince Shotoku)

Prince Shotoku was a great believer in and protector of Buddhism.
Prince Shotoku was a devout believer in Buddhism, which had only just been introduced to Japan, and became a symbol of the spread and popularity of Buddhism in Japan.
For this reason, he is worshipped by all Buddhist sects as the " Japanese Buddha " and the " reincarnation of Kannon Bodhisattva ."

The hall where the statue of Prince Shotoku is enshrined is called "Taishi-do."


 

 

There is Sanreisha Gongen.  

There is a " cave ".
Once inside, you will find Sanreisha Gongen.

 
 
telephone number
0467-22-3534
address
1-16-3 Ogigaya, Kamakura City

It is about a 15-minute walk from the west exit of JR Kamakura Station. (It is about 1.5 km.)

Eishoji temple

1-16-3 Ogigaya, Kamakura City

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