Sugimoto-dera, Buddhist temple in Nikaidō, Kamakura, Japan
Sugimoto-dera is a Buddhist temple in Kamakura with stone pathways covered in green moss leading to a hall featuring a traditional thatched roof and guardian statues. Three sacred Kannon statues are housed within the main structure.
The temple was established in 734 under orders from Empress Kōmyō, who directed Buddhist monk Gyōki and noble Fujiwara no Fusasaki to build this sacred site. A major fire in 1189 shaped the temple's identity and origin story.
This temple serves as a station on pilgrimage routes that connect sacred sites across the region. The space draws people seeking spiritual connection through walking these traditional paths.
The temple is open to visitors during daytime hours when natural light illuminates the moss-covered pathways. Wear sturdy shoes as the stone steps can be slippery from the moisture-loving moss.
According to local tradition, the sacred statues escaped a destructive fire by seeking shelter beneath a large cedar tree. This event inspired the temple's name, Sugimoto, which literally means cedar base.
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