Hosshoji, Buddhist sanctuary in Zushi, Japan

Hosshoji is a Nichiren Buddhist temple in the Kuki district of Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, with the mountain name Enbakusan. Its thatched-roof mountain gate stands below the valley facing Kanagawa Prefectural Route 205 and the JR Yokosuka Line, and a plaque on it shows two white monkeys. Up the hill are the 1924 founder's hall, the four-sided hall over Nichiro's tomb, and a cave cut into the rock face.

Hosshoji was founded in 1321 by Ryojo, a disciple of Nichiro, on the site where Nichiren is said to have escaped the Matsubagayatsu persecution of 1260, guided by a white monkey. In 1345 it moved to Kyoto by imperial order, and in 1603 it was re-established on its original site under the same name. The current founder's hall dates from 1924.

The temple serves as a living center where local Buddhist practices unfold naturally within its grounds. Regular ceremonies and meditation sessions connect visitors and residents to traditions that remain active and meaningful in daily life.

Hosshoji is a 20-minute walk from JR Zushi Station on the Yokosuka Line, or a 2-minute walk from the Kubo 5-chome, Hosshoji and Highland-loop bus stops. The main gate stands below the valley facing Prefectural Route 205 and the railway; the halls and cave lie up the hill, and a ridge path beyond the cemetery connects toward the Nagoe Pass cutting.

The temple gardens showcase native Japanese maple trees that change color through the seasons, offering different visual impressions with each visit. These shifting displays create varied experiences depending on when you arrive.