Engakuji Temple

Engakuji is a temple located right in front of JR Yokosuka Line’s Kitakamakura station. It was founded in 1282, the latter half of Kamakura era, by Sogen Mugaku, a Zen monk invited from the Song dynasty.
Engakuji was named after a scripture called “Engakukyo” that was excavated when this place was first erected, which preaches Mahayana Buddhism. Engakuji ranks second among the “Kamakura Gozan temples”, the five high-class Zen temples in Kamakura. It is also the head temple of Rinzai sect Daihonzan Engakuji Temple.
Natsume Soseki, a famous Japanese writer, based his novel, “Mon (the gate)” on “Sanmon”, the gate that symbolizes Engakuji. Engakuji also appears in many other works by Natsume.
The scenery of this temple is beautiful every season. Especially besides “Soumon”, the entrance gate of this temple, cherry blossoms bloom beautifully in the spring and leaves change colors in the fall.