Gokurakuji Temple in Kamakura

A pretty temple near Enoden Gokurakuji Station

Takako Sakamoto Mar 24, 2015 - ใช้เวลาอ่าน 1 นาที

<p>The small gate of Gokurakuji Temple with a rare thatched roof</p>

<p>Looking at the main hall of Gokurakuji Temple through the wooden gate</p>

<p>Stone marker of Gokurakuji Temple</p>

<p>The wooden sign says 'Ryoju-san' in blue letters, meaning, 'spirits of eagles'</p>

<p>Narrow stone-paved pathway to the main hall with still bare cherry trees on both sides. It must be beautiful in spring!</p>

<p>Small branch of a plum tree with tiny white blossoms at the entrance</p>

<p>Looking up at the thatched roof. It's rare to find a temple with a thatched-roof gate!</p>

<p>History of Gokurakuji Temple shown at front of the gate</p>

<p>Little plum blossoms with thatched roof in a background</p>

<p>Plum blossoms blooming against the sky on a still cold late February day</p>

<p>Idyllic-looking gate of Gokurakuji Temple</p>

<p>White and pink blossoms under the sunshine</p>

In late February this year, I visited Gokurakuji Temple in Kamakura City. It was just an coincidence that I stumbled across this temple. I was staying at Kamakura Prince Hotel I hailed a cab and asked a driver to take me to the nearest temple. He dropped me in front of Gokurakuji! I loved it as soon as I saw the pretty thatched roof of its main gate, which is rare to find even in Japan. Although the temple looks very small now, it used to be a gigantic temple complex with 49 small temples (see this article on Japan Travel for detailed history). To many visiting photographers' dismay, photography was banned inside the premises, so I can only show you the photos taken from outside. FYI, Gokuraku is a Buddhist Pure Land temple - or in Western terms, heaven!

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...