Jōchi-ji

Jōchi-ji is a Rinzai Zen temple in Kita-Kamakura, ranked fourth among Kamakura’s Five Great Zen Temples. Its wooded grounds feel quieter than the city’s busier temple sites, with a mossy path, bamboo, hillside niches and small caves to explore. Look for the Hotei figure in a shallow cave, associated with contentment, and take time to sit on a bench among the greenery. The temple is also a starting point for the Daibutsu hiking trail, which leads through the hills toward the Great Buddha.

A Zen temple in Kita-Kamakura

Jōchi-ji belongs to the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism and is ranked fourth among Kamakura’s Five Great Zen Temples. It was founded in the 13th century. The buildings in the complex were reconstructed after the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923, which destroyed the earlier structures.

The temple sits in a wooded setting in Kita-Kamakura. Its grounds include a bamboo grove, a garden path and older features among the rebuilt buildings. The main hall holds statues of Shaka, Miroku and Amida Nyorai.

Caves, Hotei and the hiking trail

Look around the hillside for small niches and caves. One shallow cave contains Hotei, associated with contentment and known in the West as the Laughing Buddha. The grounds also have a cemetery, so move through these areas quietly and respectfully.

Jōchi-ji is the starting point for the Daibutsu hiking trail, which crosses the hills toward the Great Buddha. If you are visiting only the temple, a slow walk around the grounds takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Add time if you plan to hike.