Engaku-ji

Underrated attraction in Kamakura. If you get down from Kita-Kamakura station, the temple is just a few minutes walk away, and there are multiple temples within walking distance. Big temple ground and can spend around an hour here. There is a very nice/zen garden at the back - its giving Kyoto vibes but without the crowd!! If you’re interested in transcribing sutra, you can do so for ¥1500 (they provide you with all the materials, brush) A great experience for me!

Engaku-ji in Kamakura is among the most significant Zen temples in Japan. Tucked at the base of forested hills close to Kita-Kamakura Station, it presents an arresting mix of historical design and natural beauty. The temple grounds are large and peaceful, with stone walks, lovely timber rooms and seasonal flowers—particularly breathtaking in October. One of the biggest bells in Kamakura, the Great Bell (Ogane) accentuates its spiritual aura. Engaku-ji is ideal for people looking for a calm, meditative environment anchored in Zen tradition and history.

Nice temple away from the main city. Quite big and also has an area where you can have tea or coffee in traditional pottery for another fee. 500 yen per person for the entrance of the temple and 100 for the traditional outdoor cafe. Watch the locals do archery near the entrance of the temple

I was lucky enough to have a tour guide that took me here, this being an active Buddhist training center is amazing. There is so much to see and so many buildings. Personally I would recommend this over the Giant Buddha if I c would only out one.

Went here on a weekday, it was almost empty. It's usually overcrowded at the weekend. Great escape from the summer heat.

It's famous for its national treasure and the Buddhas tooth, but did not feel it was worth the entry price especially compared to the other spots in Kamakura. It felt more like a temple catapulted to fame due to tourism & closeness to Tokyo rather than grandeur. It did have some pretty flowers but there is another temple very close called meigetsu in, which is more famous for its flowers and garden. The main advantage to this seemed to be that its very close to the station and seemed like a logical place to start the tour.

Very beautiful on autumn, and some of the buildings in the complex are great, also, it was very quiet and peaceful, but... most places are private and you cannot access or only look from afar, and others you have to pay extra, which i think it's stupid. Make me pay for the whole thing and don't ask me for extra change later. The explanations in English give you zero context and you don't know what you are looking at. Some monks, some demos, some gods, but what's the impact in history? Why is the place important? What's artistically valuable for its history?

Quiet escape even in busy season. We had a small moss garden to ourselves.

If you use the JR train, please get off at Kita Kamakura. You will see the majestic gate. It is walkable from JR Kita Kamakura station. You have to pay 500 yen. It is reasonable. The temple is serene. You walk around, then learn Japanese architecture. The flowers are also enchanting! The Japanese garden is so Instagramable.

The nearest from Kita Kamakura station, this will be the first stop of your "chill 'n zen" journey in Kamakura. The perimeter is relatively smaller than other temples in the area, if you have little less than an hour, it'd be plenty to conquer the architectures and garden work in the property. There's also a "tea hut" in the property. But it's on the summit of the steep hill. But it was quite rewarding to have a bowl of "matcha" and looking out the mountains after climbing up the long stairs. Admission fee is 300 yen.

This is a huge temple complex that is located near the Kita-Kamakura station and also near the end of the Daibutsu hiking trail. It costs 300 yen to get into the grounds of this enormous temple. It seems less crowded than a lot of the other temples because it is so large that you just aren't crowded in anywhere like you are at a lot of the other temples. The great gates are a great start to this experience. They are massive and very impressive. Take your time at the temple because you will need it. We ended our day here and were a little rushed so we didn't get a chance to see everything here. The temple grounds date back to the 1200s with a few reconstructions, such as the main hall, due to earthquakes and such. There are so many different things to check out here. The main hall was great, as were some of the smaller buildings leading up to it. We also hiked up a lot of stairs to see a shrine. We didn't hike to the very top, but seeing the shrine was neat and it was a wonderful view. It was too foggy that day to see Mt. Fuji though. Well worth the hike and I wish we had had several more hours here!

One of the oldest and most peaceful temple complexes in Kamakura and one of the must-see places when you visit. When coming from Tokyo this is likely where you will start your sightseeing, as it is right next to the Kita Kamakura train station.