What to know
Tokeiji (東慶寺) is a small branch temple of the Engakuji school within the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Its head temple, Engakuji, stands just a few hundred meters away on the opposite side of the railway tracks. Photography is prohibited on the temple grounds.
Tokeiji was founded in 1285 by the wife of regent Hojo Tokimune after his early death. Until the end of the Edo Period (1603-1868), the temple served as a shelter for women suffering abuse from their husbands, offering a path to divorce. An official divorce could be obtained by staying at the temple for three years.
Tokeiji is a five-minute walk from Kita-Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line, one stop before Kamakura Station when coming from Tokyo.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:00 to 16:00
- Closed
- No closing days
- Admission
- Free (but an offering is expected at the main hall)
- English name
- Original name
- Tokeiji Temple
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.