Ankokuronji Temple
Kanagawa Prefecture · Japan
Visitors can walk along a short hiking trail through the wooded hills around the temple buildings. A nice view of the city of Kamakura can be enjoyed underway. Some of the trail's passages are quite steep and should only be explored with good walking shoes and during dry weather.
Contents
7 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Tucked away in the serene Matsubagayatsu valley of Kamakura, Ankokuronji Temple serves as a profound monument to the origins of the Nichiren school of Buddhism. While many temples in this ancient capital are grand and bustling,…
Listen in the app2The Gohooksu Cave — The Scriptural Core
The spiritual heart of Ankokuronji is the Gohooksu, an actual cave carved into the soft Kamakura hillside. This is where Nichiren lived and, most significantly, where he authored the Risho Ankokuron. …
Listen in the app3Nichimei-kutsu — The Legend of the White Monkey
Continuing deeper into the temple grounds, we encounter another sacred site with a more mystical tone: the Nichimei-kutsu cave. This location is tied to one of the most beloved legends in the Nichiren tradition. …
Listen in the app4Fujimidai — The Prophetic Viewpoint
For those willing to ascend a steep stone staircase near the Kumo-den, the reward is Fujimidai, a panoramic viewpoint that offers some of the best vistas in Kamakura. From this elevation, the city spreads out below, with the…
Listen in the app5Mayo-zakura — The 700-Year-Old Sentinel
Among the many natural treasures of Ankokuronji, none is more remarkable than the Mayo-zakura, an ancient mountain cherry tree estimated to be over 700 years old. This tree is designated as a natural monument by Kamakura City and…
Listen in the app6Kumo-den and the Sacred Stones
As we loop back toward the main hall, we find the Kumo-den, a structure that enshrines the deity Kumo-desenjin. According to temple tradition, this deity was invited here by one of Nichiren's devoted followers, Kumamaru. …
Listen in the app7Closing
Our exploration of Ankokuronji Temple concludes where it began, at the entrance to a valley that has witnessed the birth of a major spiritual movement and the survival of its founder against incredible odds. We have stood by the…
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What is Ankokuronji Temple?
Ankokuronji Temple is a place in Kanagawa Prefecture · Japan with 7 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Kanagawa Prefecture · Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 7 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 35.3115, 139.5590 |
| Last updated |
