Sugimoto-dera

The Sugimoto-dera Temple is the oldest temple in the Kamakura area. Its principal image of worship is the three figures of eleven-faced Kan'non Avalokiteśvara. The temple is the first stop of the “Kamakura Thirty-Three Kan'non Pilgrimage of Bando.” It was founded by a high priest called Gyoki in 734 by the request of Empress Komyo. A legend says that the main image of worship itself took refuge from fire under the cedar tree on the temple grounds in the Kamakura era (1192 – 1333); thus, the temple has been called Sugi-moto, or “under a cedar tree.” On January 18, the day of hatsu Kan'non (the first Kannon ceremony), a Gomadaki ritual is held to commemorate and unveil the statues every year. Hondo (the main hall) and the Nio-mon Gate have thatched roofs that are rare for temple architecture. Various flowers and trees are planted on the entirety of the temple grounds to make the temple a beautiful place every season, such as cherry blossoms in spring, hydrangeas in summer, maple trees in autumn, and sasanqua camellias in winter. You may also enjoy lovely wildflowers like alpine gesneriad or bellflowers. You can take the JR Yokosuka Line to the Kamakura Station, take a Tokyu Bus to the Sugimoto Kan'non bus stop, and walk one minute to the temple.