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You can visit the shrine from early in the morning; this is also the time when it is less crowded. The Nakamise (street market) is also a fun place to walk around after visiting the shrine.

Welcome to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, a sacred Zen sanctuary where tranquility and solemnity reside. Located in Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple stands as an important Zen temple of the Soto sect, preserving its long history and deep faith to this day.The main hall was designed by Ito Chuta, the first Japanese architecture historian, and embodies the traditional Japanese aesthetic of finding the beauty in shadows. The approach leading to it is lined with approximately 20,000 cedar trees, many over hundreds of years old, enveloping visitors in a quiet, mystical atmosphere.A beautifully proportioned pagoda welcomes worshippers, evoking a sense of being transported to ancient Japan. The legendary ascetic Tengu (a type of Shinto spiritual being) stands guard before Kekkai-mon (the sacred barrier gate), and is said to ward off evil spirits and protect worshippers while also guiding the path to enlightenment.Atop 354 stone steps lies the sacred sanctuary Okunoin, quietly standing to offer deep healing and insight to visitors. This space, woven from the natural beauty of the four seasons and the spirit of Zen, is the perfect place for a journey away from daily life to center your mind.We invite you to experience the “authentic Japan” where tranquility and strength coexist at Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple. Zen practice through zazen meditation and sutra copying awaits you.

Founded by Gyoki in 716, this temple has a history of 1,300 years. Since the Middle Ages, it has been a sacred place for medicinal practitioners, and is known as Hinata Yakushi, one of the three most famous Yakushi in Japan. The temple also holds one of Japan's greatest treasure houses, with numerous statues of Buddha designated as nationally important cultural properties that bear witness to its history. It is also famous for higanbana (cluster amaryllis), which grows in clusters around Hinata Yakushi from mid-September to early October, making it a popular tourist attraction. Please come and visit Hinata Yakushi, a place rich in nature and full of attractions.

Built here in the early 700 A.D., Daijoin is a temple where you can practise waterfall meditation. Waterfall meditation is a way to liberate and regenerate oneself, and gain a sense of unity with the natural world. The monks at Daijoin practise waterfall meditation, and offer guidance to visitors who wish to try it themselves.

After passing through Koma Sando (the path to the shrine), the route to Oyama Afuri Shrine Shimosha (the lower shrine) splits into two. Otokozaka (Men's Slope) climbs steep rocks, while Onnazaka (Women's Slope) passes through Oyama-dera Temple via a stepped mountain path. Along the Onnazaka (Women's Slope), you can enjoy the "Seven Wonders of Onnazaka".

The water here is from one of the Five Notable Springs in Kamakura. It is said that if you wash your money in this water, your finances will increase.An unusual fusion of religions, Zeniarai Benzaiten is a shinto shrine with numerous Buddhist statues. Rent a sieve to wash your money in the spring waters, then the traditional water spirit Ugafukujin will reward you by multiplying your money.

Wife and son, Morotoki, of Shogun Hojo Munemasa built this temple in 1281. In this temple there is a 'Kanro no I (well)' , one of the 10 Kamakura Wells. This temple ground is designated as a historic spot of Japan.The Donge-Den houses the Three Statues of Buddha. The leftmost statue represents the past, the center the present, and the right the future (as seen from the main entrance).Built in 1924, the thatched-roof Shoin offers a beautiful view of the gardens throughout the seasons.

Please make sure you obey the rules and act appropriately when visiting.Located in "Kamakura's hidden village", with red torii gates and white foxes enshrined throughout the grounds, the area is a place filled with a mysterious atmosphere. Also known by the name "Inari of success", it is a famous 'power spot' where many go to wish for promotions and good luck.Torii represent a dividing line (kekkai) between worlds. The entrance to the sacred Sasuke Inari Shrine sees 49 Torii — each step through one represents an individual's growing distance from the secular.

The temple offers Zen meditation programs with English guidance and sutra copying experiences, and also serves powdered green tea. Many international visitors come to experience Zen and Japanese culture. (Reservation required)

Founded in 1394 by Soto Zen monk Ryoan Emyo Zenji, this ancient temple is a Soto sect training center renowned as one of the sect's three major prayer temples. Its natural beauty changes with the seasons, with its autumn foliage illuminated at night for seasonal viewing. Prayer services, zazen meditation experiences, and shojin-ryori vegetarian cuisine are available (reservation required). Temple legends feature tengu (mountain bird-like goblins), and the main hall enshrines the world's largest iron geta (wooden clogs).A unique aspect of this temple is its larger than life geta. These wooden sandals are left out for the tengu, winged spirits, that guard the temple grounds. The shoes vary in size, and some are even as tall as humans. Be sure not to miss this popular photography spot!One of the most sacred places in the Kanto region. Zen meditation sessions are held every second and fourth Sunday and Buddhist statue carving lessons every second and fourth Saturday of the month. There are spiritual spot tours around the grounds and other events as well.

During the outbreak of an epidemic in Ebara-gun, Musashi Province, in the Genroku era (1688-1704), Yuten Shonin (a holy priest), who was on pilgrimage, taught the local people to revere Acala, a fierce Buddhist deity. Once they began to worship Acala the plague disappeared. Migawari Fudoson Temple began when one of its halls was built to enshrine Acala in order to give thanks for such a miracle. Nowadays, worshippers visit all year round in order to pray for traffic safety and to ward off evil. Visitors can also pray at the temple for family safety, business prosperity, academic success, and general good luck. The main temple is in Kawasaki City in Kanagawa Prefecture, with branches in Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Suginami City, Tokyo.

This ancient temple in Kamakura is known for the 1,000 moso bamboo trees on its grounds. Even in the present day, the solemn atmosphere of the temple conveys the tragedy of the Ashikaga clan. It also features a beautiful bamboo grove and garden. The “Sunday Zazen-kai” (Zen meditation), which has a reputation for being strict, is held every Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. and is open to everyone. Please wear comfortable clothes to participate.This is probably the most impressive bamboo grove you will ever see. Be sure to get tickets for the temple's tranquil teahouse experience before entering.A temple in Kamakura with a beautiful garden and bamboo grove. A Sunday Zen meditation session is held at 7:30 in the morning every Sunday and is open to everyone. The session is reputed to be very strict, and be sure to wear comfortable clothing if you would like to participate.

This is the oldest temple opened by Nichiren Shonin who started Nichiren sect. The dragon sculpture at Nitenmon gate is famous for the legend that roars when you clap the hands in front of the gate.

Hakone Shrine is an ancient shrine celebrating its 1266th anniversary. Founded in 757, the first year of the Tenpyo-Hoji Era, at the beginning of the Nara Period (710-794), when Mamaki Shonin, who was in ascetic training on Mount Hakone, was entrusted by the Great God of Hakone to the shrine at its current location by Lake Ashi. During the Kamakura period, Minamoto no Yoritomo deeply worshipped Hakone Shrine, giving birth to the custom of nishomode (pilgrimage to two shrines). Since then, the shrine has flourished as a place of reverence for warriors such as the regent Hojo and the warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu, as well as a sacred place for Shugen (Japanese mountain asceticism). In modern times, with the construction of the Hakone Road, Hakone became a sacred place of worship for the common people, and belief in Mount Hakone as a deity highly virtuous for protecting against bad luck, fulfilling one's desire, and ensuring traffic safety became even more popular. The approach from the Heiwa-no-torii (peaceful gateway) by Lake Ashinoko to the main shrine is flanked by rows of cedar trees more than 600 years old, giving the shrine a majestic appearance, behind the vermilion-lacquered Gongen-zukuri main shrine building is a pure forest of himeshara, a natural treasure of Kanagawa Prefecture, and the Gongen Mitarashi pond and Lake Ashi below reflect the vermilion Peace Gate and the sacred Mount Fuji, surrounding the shrine with beautiful nature. Many visitors from around the world come to pay their respects at the Kuzuryu Shrine (Shingu and Hongu), which is a shrine revered not only for its good fortune and prosperity, but also for its protection of money, prosperity in business, and match-making, particularly during the Tsukinamisai held at the main shrine on the 13th of each month. [Divine virtues] Good luck repelling of bad luck, fulfillment of one’s desires (protection against bad luck), traffic safety, match-making, family safety, and business prosperity On July 31st, the shrine organizes the Ashinoko Kosui Matsuri Festival to celebrate a legendary dragon. Monks sail the lake on pirate ships offering red rice to the depths below. Floating lanterns illuminate the lake waters while fireworks light the skies above.Lake Ashinoko Summer Festival Week: Hakone Summer Festival offers a variety of events such as the biggest annual festival of Hakone Shrine with Shinto celebrations and rituals, fireworks, and more. Many fireworks will be launched at a total of six fireworks festivals, adding color to the summer Hakone sky.

The shrine enshrines Okuninushi no Mikoto, the deity of Izumo Taisha, Shimane Prefecture. It formally became a branch of the Izumo Taisha sect in 1888. It has a unique wooden shrine building that combines Taisha-zukuri and Gongen-zukuri styles and features a long hall called the "Winged Hall". The shrine itself is known as the "Izumo of Kanto" and features the 1,000-year-old zelkova tree, which towers over the grounds rich in nature, and the famous Hadano spring. The Yuzuri no Mizu (Yuzuri Water) drawn from 50m below the forest is also very popular among visitors (it is drinkable, and health inspections are carried out yearly). Seasonal events are often held, and many worshippers come throughout the year, as well as visitors for Goshuin (shrine stamps). (Free parking available for up to 130 cars. Tour buses require reservations.)

It was founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo to invite the spirits of Mishima Taisha and has a beautiful evening view, selected as one of the 50 most scenic spots in Kanagawa. Come and enjoy the view of the sun setting against Mt. Fuji! It was famous as a sacred place, used for exorcism since ancient times, especially during the Kamakura period. It is now a sacred place for children, visited by many people from all over Japan.