Hongaku-ji, Buddhist temple in Komachi district, Kamakura, Japan
Hongaku-ji is a Buddhist temple in the Komachi district of Kamakura, Japan, with a main hall dating from 1923. The compound also includes a bell tower and several memorial halls arranged among the trees.
The site was founded in 1436 when Buddhist monks decided to establish a place of worship here. It later became known as the eastern Minobusan after receiving a portion of the priest Nichiren's remains.
The grounds honor the Buddhist priest Nichiren, whose remains rest here and give the site its reputation as a place of pilgrimage. People come throughout the year for monthly services held on the 24th and for the January festival when families gather to receive blessings.
The compound sits five minutes on foot from the east exit of Kamakura Station and opens daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no entrance fee, and the paths between buildings are level and easy to walk.
A dedicated hall treats eye ailments, reflecting centuries of connection between the site and healing practices. Believers pray here for better vision or recovery from eye problems.
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