Hokokuji Temple (Takedera Temple)
Hokokuji Temple (Takedera Temple)
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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4.5
713 reviews
Excellent
388
Very good
252
Average
61
Poor
9
Terrible
3
JLlovetravel
Phoenix, AZ218 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
It's a relatively small temple but the bamboo path is really pretty. The only thing I did not like was the admission fee (which was why it only had 3 stars). I paid 900 yen for the admission and also the green tea inside. The experience was nice, but the green tea and the tiny Japanese snacks did not worth the $600 yen extra. I know it's not a lot of money but I felt that they were taking advantages of tourists and overcharging them.
Written July 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bonchua
Singapore, Singapore223 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
Beautiful temple and shuttle this visit between the big Buddha and walking street will be perfect for a full day outing. We drove and lucky to get car park. Parking is limited and stroller friendly.
Written December 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CathCPerth
Yokohama, Japan259 contributions
Jul 2013 • Friends
I have had the good fortune to visit Kamakura on several occasions and one of my favourite places is the Hokokuji Temple. The entrance is tranquil and cool with a lovely path and lots of moss. You step up into the temple area to a stone garden, a big bellhouse and the temple itself which is nice but nothing out of the ordinary. The real attraction to this temple is its lovely entrance garden, and the bamboo grove that lies behind the temple. An entry fee of around 300 yen is payable to enter the bamboo grove part of the temple and if you pay 500 yen you get to experience traditional green tea with a small sweet sitting in a tea pavilion overlooking the bamboo grove. Whilst I am not a big fan of the thick green tea, it is still something everyone should experience as the tea is served on a lovely carved tray- a special craft of the Kamakura artisans and you receive a small ink printed picture of a bamboo plant which you can keep as your souvenir. Once you pay your admission, you turn a corner and are greeted by the tall bamboo plants shooting up into the air. It is a photographer's dream as you step up into the bamboo grove. After sitting and sampling the tea whilst soaking up the tranquility of this lovely bamboo grove, you can walk around to the right where you will see more garden and some little caves in the hillside containing little stone statues.
To reach this temple, you need to catch the bus from the bus stand right out front of Kamakura train station. Ask the helpful tourist information people inside the station and they will provide you with the bus number and a map to show you where the temple is located. You can walk but from the station, it will take a good 40 minutes. Too far on a Japanese summer day- believe me- I did the walk back! The bus trip takes about 10 minutes. The stop you need to get off is just past a canal on the right hand side and on the left side where you get off, is a shop selling Japanese stone lanterns and other carved statues. You get off then walk up a small street that is across the road from the stone carving shop over the canal and head straight for about 2 minutes. If you are looking for a cool refreshment or a coffee after your visit, exit the temple, walk back to the main road and turn right and walk for about 300 metres and you will come across the cute retro Alpha Betty Cafe. Very cheerful with one of the cutest most decorative toilets I have seen in a while!
To reach this temple, you need to catch the bus from the bus stand right out front of Kamakura train station. Ask the helpful tourist information people inside the station and they will provide you with the bus number and a map to show you where the temple is located. You can walk but from the station, it will take a good 40 minutes. Too far on a Japanese summer day- believe me- I did the walk back! The bus trip takes about 10 minutes. The stop you need to get off is just past a canal on the right hand side and on the left side where you get off, is a shop selling Japanese stone lanterns and other carved statues. You get off then walk up a small street that is across the road from the stone carving shop over the canal and head straight for about 2 minutes. If you are looking for a cool refreshment or a coffee after your visit, exit the temple, walk back to the main road and turn right and walk for about 300 metres and you will come across the cute retro Alpha Betty Cafe. Very cheerful with one of the cutest most decorative toilets I have seen in a while!
Written August 6, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StewieTokyo
Saitama, Japan237 contributions
Aug 2011 • Friends
This is a special place and I have been here many times. It is not the most popular temple mainly because it is away from the main tourist area and the opposite side of the town from the Daibutsu / Big Buddha and Hasedera.
This is a working temple and they have zazen sessions here every Sunday morning. As a zen temple it has the simple style that we (Westerners?) expect from a Japanese temple. One the last day I visited I walked up the gentle slopping path to the entrance and could hear sutra chanting. It was not, as I expected, monks doing their duty but a father teaching his two young daughters how to pray in front of the altar. An ordinary working man in construction workers clothes with two little girls in the their 'Sunday' best.
This part of the temple is free but you have to pay to enter the bamboo garden - if you do not see the garden you are missing something truly special. The bamboo are mature and massive. You walk through the cool green (and I would love to see this in the snow) towards the sound of a waterfall. This is where the hermit who founded the temple hid from the busyness of Kamakura.
There is place here to sip green tea and watch the water fall and garden. This is not a tea ceremony experience but the tea is included in the entrance price, you hand over your ticket and they will give you a number. When you tea and sweets are ready they will call your number in Japanese. Sip and soak in the peace.
(I have said there is wheel chair access - there is for the main temple but there is a very small set of steps to get up into the garden.)
This is a working temple and they have zazen sessions here every Sunday morning. As a zen temple it has the simple style that we (Westerners?) expect from a Japanese temple. One the last day I visited I walked up the gentle slopping path to the entrance and could hear sutra chanting. It was not, as I expected, monks doing their duty but a father teaching his two young daughters how to pray in front of the altar. An ordinary working man in construction workers clothes with two little girls in the their 'Sunday' best.
This part of the temple is free but you have to pay to enter the bamboo garden - if you do not see the garden you are missing something truly special. The bamboo are mature and massive. You walk through the cool green (and I would love to see this in the snow) towards the sound of a waterfall. This is where the hermit who founded the temple hid from the busyness of Kamakura.
There is place here to sip green tea and watch the water fall and garden. This is not a tea ceremony experience but the tea is included in the entrance price, you hand over your ticket and they will give you a number. When you tea and sweets are ready they will call your number in Japanese. Sip and soak in the peace.
(I have said there is wheel chair access - there is for the main temple but there is a very small set of steps to get up into the garden.)
Written September 12, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sean M
Brisbane, Australia56 contributions
May 2017 • Solo
My wife and I have visited Hokokuji twice. You can walk there from Kamakura station (about 30 minutes) or catch a bus from number 5 stop at Kamakura Station (8 minutes). Entry is free to the temple but access to the bamboo forest is 200 yen ($2) add another 500 yen ($5) if you want to have green tea at the little teahouse in the forest.
The bamboo forest is not big but there are 2000 bamboo in it and it is a very peaceful setting. We got there at 9am so were first through the gate and had the forest to ourselves for a little while. We sat in the teahouse and had bitter green tea (macha) which is an acquired taste but they give you two sweet lollies with it to suck on as you drink it.
Some interesting history. In 1439 Shogun Yoshinori attacked Kamakura to re-establish his power. The ruler of Kamakura, Ashikaga Mochiuji and his son Yoshihisa were forced to kill themselves to escape capture. Hōkoku-ji is the place the 13 year old Yoshihisa chose for his ritual suicide by disembowelment (Seppuku). Imagine that, a thirteen year old, committing suicide to avoid disgrace. I believe their ashes are kept in the caves behind the temple (no access). There is also a zen garden behind the temple and next to the bamboo forest.
When you leave the temple and walk back to the main street, if you turn right there is another nice temple 250 m to the right and another 270m to the left (with very many stairs).
Hokokuji is well worth a visit
The bamboo forest is not big but there are 2000 bamboo in it and it is a very peaceful setting. We got there at 9am so were first through the gate and had the forest to ourselves for a little while. We sat in the teahouse and had bitter green tea (macha) which is an acquired taste but they give you two sweet lollies with it to suck on as you drink it.
Some interesting history. In 1439 Shogun Yoshinori attacked Kamakura to re-establish his power. The ruler of Kamakura, Ashikaga Mochiuji and his son Yoshihisa were forced to kill themselves to escape capture. Hōkoku-ji is the place the 13 year old Yoshihisa chose for his ritual suicide by disembowelment (Seppuku). Imagine that, a thirteen year old, committing suicide to avoid disgrace. I believe their ashes are kept in the caves behind the temple (no access). There is also a zen garden behind the temple and next to the bamboo forest.
When you leave the temple and walk back to the main street, if you turn right there is another nice temple 250 m to the right and another 270m to the left (with very many stairs).
Hokokuji is well worth a visit
Written May 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tomoko K
5 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
If anyone's visiting Kamakura, you CANNOT miss out on the bamboo temple Hokokuji. It is about 15-20 minutes by bus (line us at #5 bus stop right in front of the station.
The experience is priceless. Not only it's extremely rare for a city person like me to be surrounded by enormous bamboos; the whole experience is extremely beautiful aesthetically and extremely relaxing.
The experience is priceless. Not only it's extremely rare for a city person like me to be surrounded by enormous bamboos; the whole experience is extremely beautiful aesthetically and extremely relaxing.
Written August 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jan L
Bloomington, MN49 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
After reading the reviews of this place it was something we put on our "must see" list when we visited Japan. We're so glad that we did. We took the train to Kamakura and then a bus to Hase. When going through the gates into the grounds of Hokokuji Temple (Takedera Temple) you immediately realize that the place is serene. The mossy rocks, gardens and landscape are gorgeous. There is no fee to be in this garden area or to see the temple. You can not go into the temple but you are able to see into it from the steps. Then after paying a small fee ($2 USD) you go behind the temple into the most restful area in Japan...the bamboo forest. Ahhhh...... this area is stunning. The bamboo trees go upwards for miles. It's shady, cool and quiet. There is beauty everywhere you turn. Toward the back of the forest there is a little tea house where you can sip their special green tea and look out into the trees. (There's an additional fee for the tea.) You can see caves in the distance that have tombs in them. It was magical spending time here. We highly recommend it.
Written April 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siddharth B
Seattle, WA545 contributions
Oct 2019
Hokukuji is a mini-version of Arashiyama and one thing where it beats Arashiyama is you can actually walk within bamboo gardens and feel to be in an enchanted place. It is definitely very beautiful and if you’re in Kamakura, I’d strongly recommend but I’d warn beforehand the bamboo gardens are very small and ends within 1-2 minutes of walk. You can go to the cafe and sip coffee overlooking the gardens, but I am not into stuff like that so I skipped it. When you enter the grounds you are greeted by miniature moss statues which are beautiful in itself. Apart from that you will get to see a rock garden similar to Ryoan-ji. There are some caves too with a koi pond providing a backdrop to the temple. Excellent place- it is small, but very worth it and should be the first stop in Kamakura.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
scotthumphries
Canberra, Australia219 contributions
Jul 2019
Although it can be somewhat busy with many visitors, this centrally located temple is worth a visit. The lovely bamboo forest and the beautiful gardens are highlights, as is the peaceful tea house.
Written August 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Whitney
Austin, TX35 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
We wanted to see a bamboo forest and decided to spend the day to find Hokokuji Temple. I'm so glad we did and honestly I think it was the highlight of our trip. We didn't realize you could rent bikes but we walked from the train station which took us about 30 minutes by foot. This was okay though because we got to see wild koi, authentic neighborhoods and just embrace being away from the big cities. The grounds are not very big but the template was so peaceful. It was absolutely breathtaking and being there made me feel lucky. We could have probably walked through a hundred times and felt refreshed each time. The bamboo forest was not very large but completely worth seeing it. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before. I absolutely recommend this location.
Written March 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does we pay first at the door for the tea or to be pay at the teahouse? Thanks
Written February 1, 2018
You pay at the entrance for tea if you would like it.
Written February 3, 2018
Is it easy to take a bus from Kamakura Station?
Written March 5, 2017
It's super easy :) Just ask someone at the JR-station and they will point you to the right bus.Then tell the bus driver to stop at the temple.
Written March 6, 2017
Hi could you remember what bus to catch and is it easy to get back to the station?is it close to the Buddha place?
Written January 5, 2015
Hi, you should take the Keihin Kyukou bus just in front of the main exit of Kamakura JR station (slightly towards the right ) and take a bus that goies to either 1)Kamakura Reien, 2)Kanazawa Hakkei, or 3)Highland and get off at "Jyoumyouji" bus-stop. It takes about 12 minutes from Kamakura station to Jyoumyouji bus-stop. I am sorry I don't remember the nus stop no at Kamakura station so it would be better to ask someone. When you get off the bus, you cross the bus street to the other side and cross a bridge. There will be many other tourists so it should not be difficult. You will walk about 3 minutes from the bus-stop to the temple. When you go back to Kamakura station, you take the bus from the other side of the bus street, There are many buses, at least every 10 to 15 nimutes so you need not worry.
The Great Budha is in another area of Kamakura. You need to go back to Kamakura station and then take the Enoden train and get off at Hase station. It is possible to visit the 2 sites in a day (probably Hokokuji in the morning and Budha in the afternoon).
Written January 6, 2015
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