Mar 7, 2013 - 1 min read

Kamakura Sugimoto-dera Temple

The oldest temple in Kamakura with a mysterious legend

By Tomoko Kamishima

Community writer

Guardian God of the temple gate

White flowers of the plum tree

Lots of banners flanking the approach

The front of the main hall

The eyes of the Guardian God are made of crystal

Pink plum blossoms are blooming

Huge numbers of five-ring stone pagodas

Daffodil flowers

The main hall (taking photos inside is prohibited)

From above the temple: a nice view of Mt. Fuji

Weeping plum blossoms in front of Benten-do

Sugimoto-dera Temple was established in the year 734 by priest Gyoki. He carved a statue of an 11-faced kannon and enshrined it at the temple. In 851 priest Ennin also made an 11-faced kannon, and in 985 priest Genshin worked on yet another 11-faced kannon and enshrined it, as well. According to the legend, these three kannon statues escaped from a huge fire 750 years ago. They moved to and sat under a cedar tree in the temple grounds (by themselves) in order to protect themselves. After that, people called this temple Sugimoto-dera (literally, “under the cedar tree”).

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Tomoko Kamishima

By Tomoko Kamishima

Community writer

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