Closed day | Open daily |
Opening Times | 9:00〜16:00 The principal image is open to the public ※The Suigetsu Kannon statue is open to the public on the 18th of every month. |

to see an explanation


Honzon(Principal image of the Buddha) |
Shakyamuni Buddha
|
School | Rinzai zen Enkakuji school |
Founder (a person who provided financial support for the construction of a temple or a well-known person who lent support) | Houjou Sadatoki |
Kaisan (the monk who first founded the temple, the first chief priest) | Kakuzanshido |
Sangou (the name that is added before the name of the temple) | Shoukouzan |
Spring | plum(February to March)In February, over 100 plum trees are in full bloom. |
Summer | iris(June)、Conandron ramondioides(May to June) |
Fall | |
Winter |
Kamakura 33 Kannon Bodhisattva, Sho Kanzeon Kannon Bodhisattva |
It is in the Matsuoka houzo (Matsuoka treasury) |
This temple was built in 1285 by Kakusanni (wife of Hojo Tokimune).It is said that 1285 was the year after Kakusan-ni's husband, Hojo Tokimune (the 8th regent of the Kamakura Shogunate), died at the age of 34.
It was a convent until 1902. (At that time, Tokei-ji was ranked second among the five Kamakura nunneries.)
In an era when women could not divorce their wives, Tokei-ji had a "temple law for cutting ties" that allowed them to do so by working at the temple.For 600 years, it was called a "temple for refuge and cutting ties."
It is currently a "temple for male monks."
It is an architectural style called "Hokei-zukuri," with a beautiful curved roof.
It is an architectural style called "Hokei-zukuri," with a beautiful curved roof.
➀ There is「 The principal image Shakyamuni Buddha 」.
(If you want to know more about Shakyamuni Buddha , Click Here)
② There is 「a statue of Tenshu-ni, the 20th abbot」.
She was the third son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the adopted daughter of Senhime, and the 20th head priest of the temple.
③ There is 「a statue of Kakuzan-ni.」
She is the founder (the monk who first opened the temple, the first abbot).
④ There is 「a statue of Yodo-ni.」
She is the daughter of Emperor Godaigo, and the 5th head priest of the temple.
It has a thatched roof.
The beautiful curve of the roof is an architectural style called "Hokei-zukuri".
There is a seated statue of Suigetsu-kannon Bodhisattva.
(If you want to know more about Kannon Bodhisattva, Click Here)
"Most Buddhas are seated facing forward," but the seated Suigetsu Kannon Bodhisattva is in a relaxed position, leaning its body against a rock.
The expression of the Buddha gazing gently at the moon reflected on the water's surface is skillfully expressed.
It is said that the expression looks "gentle and compassionate."
It is said that Buddhas with this appearance cannot be seen in Kyoto, but only in Kamakura.
In Kamakura, the handsome man is the Great Buddha of Kotoku-in Temple, and the beautiful woman is the half-seated Suigetsu Kannon Bodhisattva at Tokei-ji Temple.
The 18th of every month is the Kannon festival day, so you can see the seated Suigetsu Kannon Bodhisattva .
There are "Buddha sculptures," "lacquerware by successive nuns," "old documents related to breaking off relationships," and more.
As a temple known as a "refuge" and "relationship-cutting temple," it is unique in that it has "ancient documents related to severing ties."
Special exhibitions such as the "Spring Buddhist Statue Exhibition" and the "Autumn Maki-e Exhibition" are held.
There are precious national important cultural properties that can only be seen at those times.
(If you want to know more about national important cultural properties, Click Here)
➀ There is a "Standing Statue of Sho kanzeon Kannon Bodhisattva."
It is said that there are not many "Kannon Bodhisattva wearing the robes of a Buddha."
It is a Song-style statue.
It is a national important cultural property.
It is the 32nd of the 33 Kannon of Kamakura.
➁ There is a "Hatsune Maki-e Hitorimo"
It is an incense burner from the Muromachi period.
You can see it at the "Tokei-ji Maki-e Exhibition" held in the fall.
It is a national important cultural property.
③ There is a "Budoumakieraden Seiheibako".
It is a "relic of Nanban lacquer art" and "a tool used in Christian mass".
It can be seen at the "Tokeiji Maki-e Exhibition" held in the fall.
It is a national important cultural property.
④ There are "Tokeiji Bunsyo(documents)".
There are "ancient documents" such as "A letter from Ashikaga Shigeuji" and "A letter of seal from Ashikaga Masauji" from 1383.
It is a national important cultural property.
It is said to be the "oldest tea room" of the Urasenke school (one of the major schools of tea ceremony).
At the time, most tea rooms were about 4.5 or 2 tatami mats in size, but Kanuntei was built as an "8 tatami mat tea room".
It was built in "Shoin-zukuri" (a residential style with a shoin at the center of the building).
It is said that it was made to the taste of Sen no Sotan (grandson of Sen no Rikyu).
The sliding doors feature "Hachisennin-no-techigai-no-fusuma(The Mistake of the Eight Immortals)" by Kano Tan'yuu.
(Closed every January and August) 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, and 14:00 (scheduled to be held at normal times when there is no risk of infectious diseases or typhoons)
They bloom from early to mid-June.
When the irises bloom, you can drink tea in the tea-house "Byakurensha", which is not usually open to the public.
There are many graves of cultural figures.
"Kitaro Nishida", "D. T. Suzuki", "Takami Jun", "Hideo Kobayashi", etc.
Event
Scheduled to be held during normal times when there is no risk of infectious diseases or typhoons.
No reservation necessary.
Please tell the shop between 9:00 and 14:00 (reception closes at noon).
The event will be held at the teahouse "Byakurensha".
You cannot borrow brushes, so please bring your own. (They are also sold at the shop )
②You can do"kodo"
This is a competitive form of "kumiko" where you smell the scents of several types of fragrant wood and guess which are the same or different.
The event will be held on the "second Sunday" of every month (closed in August every year).
The event will be held from 13:00 to 14:30.
The event will be held at the teahouse "Kanuntei".
If you are wearing Western clothes, you must wear white socks. (They are also sold at the shop .)
➂You can do "Sado(Tea Ceremony)".
You can learn the manners of a guest in a tea room, how to eat matcha and sweets, etc.
The date of the event varies each month. (Please refer to the Tokeiji website.)
The event is held from 11:00 to 12:00.
It takes place at the tea room "Kanuntei".
It has a capacity of 15 people.
If you are wearing Western clothes, you must wear white socks. (If you are wearing a kimono, you must wear white tabi socks. They are also sold at the shop .)
④You can make "Oshi-bana(Pressed Flower craft)"
You can learn the basics of flower arranging.
It takes place on the fourth Saturday of every even-numbered month (irregularly only in December).
The event takes place from 10:30 to 12:00.
It takes place at the tea room "Byakurensha".