| Closed Day | Open daily (may be closed due to typhoons or snow) |
| Opening Times | ①8：00～16：30 (From March 1st to November 30th) ②8：00～16：00 (December 1st to February 28th) The principle image is open to the public. |
to see an explanation
Honzon (Principal image of the Buddha) |
Syakyamuni Buddha（Hōkan Shakyamuni buddha）（If you want to know more about shakyamuni buddha, click here） |
| School | Rinzai Engakuji school 2nd in the Kamakura Five Mountains |
| Founder (a person who provided financial support for the construction of a temple or a well-known person who lent support) | Houjou Tokimune |
| Kaisan (the monk who first founded the temple, the first chief priest) | Wuxue Zuyuan (He came from China (Song Dynasty)) |
| Sangou (the name that is added before the name of the temple) | Mugaku Sogen (Zuiroku-zan) |
| 11th of the 100 Eastern Flower Temples in Kamakura | |
| Spring | Plum （January to March）、Cherry Blossom（March to April）、 peony（April to May） |
| Summer | hydrangea（May to July） |
| Fall | maple（November to December） |
| Winter | |
| ①Kamakura 33 Kannon Buddhas, No. 33 | eleven-faced Kannon bodhisattva |
it is in the Butsunichian |
| ②Kamakura 24 Jizo Statues, No. 14 |
jizo Bodhisattva |
it is in the Butsunichian （If you want to know more about jizo Bodhisattva, click here） |
It was built in 1282 with two wishes in mind: ➀ to mourn those who died in the two wars against China (the Yuan Dynasty) (the Mongol Invasions), and ➁ to spread Zen .
The pyramid-like shape of the three scales is the family crest of the Hojo clan (the regent of the Kamakura Shogunate) .
It is ranked as the second of the Five Mountains of Kamakura . (This indicates the status of a Zen temple.)
① There is the principal image "the Shakyamuni Buddha(hokan shakyamuni Buddha) "
(If you want to know more about the Shakyamuni Buddha, click here )
② There is" Taishakuten "
➂ There is "Brahma"
This is the famous Sanmon Gate.
The "Somon" (Main Gate) , " Sanmon" ( Gate) , " Buddha Hall(main hall)" and " Hojo " (an abbot's chamber ) are lined up in a straight line
. This is a common layout in Zen Buddhist temples .
In front of the hojo (the building where the chief priest lives), there is an old juniper tree.
(If you want to know more about an old juniper tree, click here )
It is a natural monument of the city .
It is located in front of the Hojo .
You can see the gently curved roof shape known as karahafu .
Zen meditation sessions are held every Saturday and Sunday .
Anyone can participate.
It is said that Natsume Soseki, Shimazaki Toson, and Miki Kiyoshi also practiced zazen .
This is Zen temple meditation hall.
This building was built in 1699.
It is a thatched roof building that is "over 300 years old"
① There is a " Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha)".
(If you want to know more about Medicine Buddha, click here )
②There is a statue of the "Daijidaihi Kannon Bodhisattva . "
( If you want to know more about Kannon Bodhisattva, click here)
This is the only building in Kamakura that is a national treasure (a national important cultural property) .
(If you want to know more about a national treasure, click here)
Here you can see architectural styles that were introduced from China during the Kamakura period, such as
①fan rafters, the slope of the roof and the curve of the eaves
➁Katomado windows, with their straight vertical lines in the window frames .
The Shari-den is located inside the sub-temple, Shozokuin .
Minamoto no Sanetomo received a portion of the Buddha's remains from a temple in China (Song Dynasty) called Noninji
. It is a tooth of Buddha called Butsuge Shari .
It is enshrined here.
On the left and right are Ⓐ" Jizo Bodhisattva" and Ⓑ " Kannon Bodhisattva".
Ⓐ (If you want to know more about Jizo Bodhisattva, click here)
Ⓑ (If you want to know more about Kannon Bodhisattva, click here)
It is not usually open to the public, but you can see the exterior only during① the first three days of the New Year and ② around November 3rd .
In the Kaizan-to Zendo（Hall）at the back of the Shariden, there is a statue of Bukko Kokushi (Mugaku Shigen, the founder of Engakuji Temple).
It is a national important cultural property .
This is Engakuji Temple's most famous sub-temple (a temple built to protect the tombs of the founders and high priests).
① There is " Manjusri Kannnon Buddhas . "
(If you want to know more about Manjusri Kannnon Buddhas ,click here)
② There is" Mugaku Sogen (Zuiroku-zan)" (the monk who first founded the temple and the first chief priest ).
He is in the Kaisan-do Hall at the back of the temple grounds.
There is a mausoleum (a graveyard where the spirit of Hojo Tokimune is enshrined) for Hojo Tokimune (the founder of Engakuji Temple; the 8th regent who repelled two Mongol invasions (from China)).
It is said that Hojo Tokimune " devoted himself to Zen at Butsuni-an .
➀ There is a seated statue of Jizo Bodhisattva.
( If you want to know more about Jizo Bodhisattva, click here)
It is the principal image of Butsuni-an Temple
”Kamakura 14 Jizo Bodhisattva , No. 14”
➁ There is a "seated statue of the eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva . "
It is in a "mausoleum" (a place where spirits are enshrined. It is a graveyard.)
"Kamakura 33 Kannon Buddhas, No. 13"
➂ There is a wooden statue of Kakuin Shuin.
person who rebuilt the sub-temples (graves of high priests, etc.) of Engakuji Temple, which had fallen into disuse.
He is in the main hall .
➃ There is a wooden statue of Houjou Tokimune.
"He is the 8th regent "
"He is in the mausoleum"
The teahouse "Ensokuken" is located inside Butsuni-an.
It was built by "Kakuin Shuin", who loved tea.
You can drink "matcha" and "coffee". The snacks are "Kobato Mame-raku" from Toshimaya, famous for its Hato Sable cookies.
It also appears in the novels "A Thousand Cranes" by Yasunari Kawabata and "Thicket of Thorns" by Tachihara Masaak.
➀ There is a white magnolia tree .
It was given to the temple by Rojin, a Chinese novelist who wrote "The True Story of Ah Q,"in 1933.
The tree blooms in mid-March.
➁ There is a magnolia tree.
It was given to the temple by Rojin, a Chinese novelist who wrote "The True Story of Ah Q,"in 1933.
You can see the flowers around June.
It is said that Hojo Sadatoki (the founder of Engakuji Temple; son of Hojo Tokimune)donated it " in the hope of national peace . "
It is the largest bell in the Kanto region .
It is 259.4 cm tall and 142 cm in diameter.
It is one of the three famous bells in Kamakura .
At the temple, it is called Ogane.
It is a national important cultural property .
The Sango, " Zuirokusan" , is inscribed on the wall .
It is said that the name "Zuirokusan" came from the fact that when " Mugaku Sogen (Zuiroku-zan) " (the monk who first established the temple and the first chief priest ) was about to give a sermon on the opening of the temple, a white deer appeared from the mountain and tried to listen to his lecture .
This is a historic pond that has existed since the construction of Engakuji Temple.
The garden was created by Muso Soseki (who is said to be the creator of dry landscape gardens).
(If you want to know more about Muso Soseki, click here.)
It is a nationally designated place of scenic beauty .
(If you want to know more about a nationally designated place of scenic beauty, click here.)
The rock visible on the other side of the pond is called " Kotogan" (Tiger's Head Rock) because it resembles a tiger's head .
The name "Byakuro-chi(pond) " is said to have come from the fact that when Mugaku Sogen (Zuiroku-zan) (the monk who first founded the temple and the first chief priest ) was looking for a place to build Engaku-ji Temple, the god of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine transformed into a white heron and guided him to the White Heron Pond.
It is a nationally designated place of scenic beauty .
| Sacred Object | Benzaiten （If you want to know more about Benzaiten, Click here ） |
| Divine Blessing | Wisdom, Financial fortune, Success in competitions, Prosperity of descendants, Music, Arts, Eloquence |
Even the famous craftsman of the Kamakura period, " Mononobe-no-Kunimitsu", failed twice to make the large bell (Ⓓ temple bell).
Therefore, the client, Hojo Sadatoki, went to pray to Benzaiten in Enoshima for success this time, and succeeded on the third try. It is said that the "Bentendo" was built in gratitude for the answer to his prayer.
It was built as a "tower for Yumemakura Kokushi .
" The remains of Ashikaga Toshiakira (the second Shogun) are divided here.
For this reason, it is also known as the " family temple of the Ashikaga clan ."
②There is a wooden seated statue of Yumemakura Kokushi .
You can see flowers all year round in the garden.
(If you want to know more about thousand-Armed Kannnon Buddhas, click here)
② There is a wooden seated statue of Yumemakura Kokushi .
You can see flowers all year round in the garden.
Event
A " Sermon Roundtable" is held on the second and fourth Sunday of every month.
Anyone can participate.
