Kamakura is famous for two major things in Japanese history: the first warrior government and the first stronghold of Zen Buddhism. Kenchôji is the first of the Kamakura Gozan, the Five Zen Mountains of Buddhism in the city of Kamakura. As the first temple in Japan dedicated to Rinzai Zen practices, it holds a very important place in Japanese history and Buddhist culture. It was founded in 1253 by the fifth Regent Lord of Japan, Hôjô Tokiyori and led by head monk Lanxi Daolong from China. Because of this monumental significance in Zen history, the Ashikaga Shogunate of the 14th to 16th centuries founded the Gozan system to identify the top five most important Zen temples. Only Kamakura and Kyoto are home to their own five Gozan temples of Zen.

For the casual: 8. For the educated: 10.

Kenchôji has something for everyone, but the fact that it was the first real temple to Zen Buddhism gives it a bit more of a push. The Kamakura period is my favorite time period in Japan so when I was there I was blown away at the thought that some of my favorite people in Japanese history walked the same paths as me, that we sat on some of the same mats, and prayed in the same halls. Kenchôji is a beautiful temple, but it lacks the level of lavishness which many other major complexes have. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful temple with exquisite woodwork.