Sugimoto Temple

I was fortunate to stop by Sugimoto-dera Temple while passing through Kamakura, and it turned out to be a truly beautiful place. The temple grounds have a quiet charm, with colorful flags fluttering and a serene atmosphere that feels steeped in history. When I visited, however, the main gate was under renovation and covered with scaffolding, so part of the view was hidden. Even so, the visit was memorable, and the temple’s setting still left a lasting impression.

SO beautiful, and way worth the walk. I came during golden week so there was a bit of people here, but can tell it’s pretty quiet normally. I was able to meditate for a small minute inside which was nice for a temple in Japan.

This is one of the most beautiful temples I have visited in Japan. It’s so quiet, and there are cushions so you can meditate inside the temple itself. I was able to meditate and not be bothered by hoardes of tourists. It was beautiful and peaceful. Off the main path there is a lookout. It is such a hidden gem and I am so happy I stumbled upon it randomly after Houkokuji!

The oldest temple in kamakura. I had the luck of seeing it on a very beautiful day . Couldn't take the pictures in the temple, but the surroundings of the temple are wonderful

the temple is a bit small but that is the beauty of it in my opinion. it has that old feeling to it that i adored because it isn’t as “stream-lined” as some of the others. the tickets were pocket money which is also a big plus. the only downside was that there are BIG SPIDERS😭 but if you do not have a phobia, as I do, you will not have many problems.

After Raiko-ji Temple, I was walking along the foot of hills slightly downward. I found a road running along the bottom of a ravine. I walked along the street and found Sugimoto-Kannon Busstop. I was almost there, the #1 member temple of the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, the second oldest 33 Kannon pilgrimage in Japan. The first temple of the second oldest pilgrimage! I was excited with high expectations. Only to find a mountain temple. New Kamakura 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #1 Sugimoto-dera Temple In 734, Empress Asukabe (701-760) heard an oracle from Avalokitesvara, “The central rule hadn’t spread to eastern provinces yet. I wish you to contribute treasure to save people.” To establish public order there, she ordered Fujiwara Fusasaki (681-737), who was her brother and a minister, and Gyoki (668-749) to build temples there. Gyoki enshrined an eleven-faced Ekadasamukha statue in Kamakura. Its hall came to be called Okura Kannon-do Hall. On November 23rd, 1189, the temple burned down but Monk Jodai rescued the Ekadasamukha statue from the fire and saved it under a Japanese cedar tree. Thereafter, the temple came to be called Sugimoto-dera, namely, Under Ceder Temple. In 1191, Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199) visited the ruins of the fire, and donated repair expenses. When Kamakura was invaded by Kitabatake Akiie (1318-1338) on his way from Mutsu Province to recapture Kyoto for Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339), Shiba Ienaga (?-1337), the Regent of the Kamakura Office of the Ashikaga Shogunate, lost to Akiie and killed himself in the temple. Sugimoto-dera Temple is also the #1 member temple of the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

As the oldest temple of Kamakura, it still looks amazing and is well preserved. The amount of things to see inside the temple at the top will surprise you and keep you busy.

This is a smaller temple but very interesting because of it’s history. We were the only tourists for a large portion of our visit which also made it a very nice experience.