Step off the train at Kita-Kamakura and follow the quiet road along the tracks, and you'll reach Meigetsu-in. Known locally as the "Hydrangea Temple," its approach turns entirely blue with hydrangeas every June. I visited slightly outside peak hydrangea season, and even then found plenty to love — the garden framed through the round window, moss-covered corners of the grounds, and a temple that clearly has something to offer in every season. Here's what to see, plus tips on timing your visit and photographing the famous window.
What Is Meigetsu-in? Why It's Called the "Hydrangea Temple"
From the Yamanouchi-Shudo Clan to the Hojo Clan
Tucked into a quiet residential corner of Kita-Kamakura, Meigetsu-in is a Zen temple of the Kencho-ji school of Rinzai Buddhism, with roots going back to the Kamakura period. It began in 1160 as "Meigetsu-an," built by Yamanouchi Tsunetoshi in memory of his father, Shudo Toshimichi, who died in the Heiji Rebellion.
In 1256, the 5th shogunal regent, Hojo Tokiyori, built "Saimyo-ji" on this site. Under his son Tokimune, it expanded into "Zenko-ji" with the Zen monk Rankei Doryu as founding priest. Later, in 1380, when Kanto Kanrei Uesugi Norikata restored Zenko-ji, its sub-temple Meigetsu-an was renamed "Meigetsu-in." Zenko-ji itself was abolished during the anti-Buddhist movement of the early Meiji era, but Meigetsu-in survived and remains a well-visited site today.
"Meigetsu-in Blue": About 2,500 Hime Hydrangeas
No description of Meigetsu-in is complete without "Meigetsu-in blue" — the wall-to-wall blue hydrangeas the temple is known for. About 2,500 Hime hydrangea plants grow on the grounds, most of them in that same striking blue. Interestingly, they were originally planted after the war simply because they were low-maintenance — and somewhere along the way, they became the temple's defining feature. Walking the grounds, I found myself stopping again and again just to take in the wall of blue.
Best Time and Timing to Visit
Hydrangeas at Meigetsu-in typically peak from early to mid-June, with the exact timing shifting slightly year to year. Weekends during this window can mean waits of several hours.
My recommendation: arrive right at the 8:30 AM opening on a weekday. With fewer people around, you can actually take in the blue and the quiet at the same time. Rainy days are also worth considering — wet stone paths against the hydrangeas have a completely different charm than a sunny day.
Getting to Meigetsu-in and Admission
From Kita-Kamakura Station: 8–10 Minutes on Foot
The nearest station to Meigetsu-in is Kita-Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line, one stop before Kamakura Station — about an hour from central Tokyo via Yokohama. Exit the gates, walk along the tracks toward Kamakura, and follow the signs through a residential neighborhood; it takes about 8–10 minutes. The route passes old-house-style cafes and bamboo groves, a quieter feel than the busier area around Kamakura Station itself.
Driving: Parking and Traffic
Meigetsu-in has no parking lot of its own. If you're driving, you'll need to use a nearby pay parking lot. A few exist around Kita-Kamakura Station, but they fill up fast during hydrangea season and on holidays, so give yourself plenty of buffer time.
The road from Kita-Kamakura Station toward Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and Kamakura Station is narrow and busy with pedestrians, so drive carefully. Traffic backs up easily on holidays — public transit, or parking near Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and walking from there, tends to be the smoother option.
Hours and Admission
Hours shift seasonally: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM most of the year (July through May), and 8:30 AM–5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM) during hydrangea season in June — earlier opening and later closing. Admission is the same year-round: ¥500 for high school age and up, ¥300 for elementary/junior high (free for visitors with a disability certificate, plus one companion). The rear garden is open only during special viewing periods, like autumn leaf season, for an extra ¥500. There's no reservation or numbered-ticket system — just line up and enter on the day.
| Address | 189 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa |
| Phone | 0467-24-3437 |
| Hours | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (8:30 AM–5:00 PM in June, last entry 4:30 PM) |
| Admission | ¥500 high school age+ / ¥300 elementary–junior high (rear garden special viewing +¥500) |
| Access | About 8–10 min on foot from JR Kita-Kamakura Station |
| Parking | None on-site — use nearby pay parking |
Tips for Avoiding the Crowds
Meigetsu-in gets seriously busy in June. Weekends between roughly 10 AM and 2 PM often mean lines just to photograph the approach or the round window. Your best bet is arriving right at opening (around 8:30 AM) on a weekday. If that's not possible, a rainy day — or walking the route in reverse, starting from Kamakura Station instead of Kita-Kamakura — can help spread out the crowds. On the way back, skip returning to Kita-Kamakura and instead walk to Kamakura Station, passing Kencho-ji and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu along the way, for a classic Kamakura walking route.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo — goshuin, blessings, and access from Kamakura Station.
Read More ›The Window of Enlightenment and the Garden
What Is the Window of Enlightenment?
The round window at the back of the main hall is known as the "Window of Enlightenment", officially called ensō. It's a symbolic design representing Zen thought — the round shape said to embody the truth and mind of Zen, and even the universe itself. The garden framed through it looks like a hanging scroll painting: fresh green in early summer, hydrangeas in the rainy season, and autumn colors later in the year. Coming back at different times of year means seeing an entirely different "painting" each time.
Tips for Photographing the Window
The first slot of the morning is your best window (pun intended) for photographing it — soft light, and fewer visitors, so you can capture the quiet mood as it actually is.
The best shooting position is just slightly forward of dead center, facing the main hall. On a phone, a light zoom that fills the window frame with the garden gives it a painting-like composition.
Shooting slightly off-angle gives a different, almost "peeking through" feel — an interesting alternative composition to try.
Goshuin and the Temple Teahouse
Getting Your Goshuin
The goshuin from Meigetsu-in, alongside the main hall.
Meigetsu-in's goshuin is well worth getting while you're there. The one offered at the main hall reads "Sho Kanzeon Bosatsu" in the center, marking the enshrined principal image. Mine came dated for the day I visited, and the hand-written strokes carry the same quiet feel as the temple itself.
The goshuin alongside the dry landscape garden.
Goshuin are available at the main hall reception after your visit, for ¥300. Expect some waiting during busy periods. An original goshuincho decorated with hydrangeas is also sold here — an easy, attractive choice if you're just starting a goshuin collection.
A Break at Gesshoken Teahouse
The grounds include a small teahouse, Gesshoken, serving matcha with a Japanese sweet (¥700). The sweet is "Izumo Zanmai" from Katsugetsudo in Shimane — a three-layer confection of gyuhi, daifuku-style adzuki jelly, and rakugan. On clear days, an outdoor tea seat with a red carpet and paper umbrella sometimes appears in the garden. No reservation needed — just drop by (though groups may want to call ahead).
A Photo Walk Through the Grounds
The Main Gate and Approach
The main entrance to Meigetsu-in.
Stone pillars and lush greenery mark the start of the approach.
The main gate, where you buy your admission ticket.
Pass through the understated wooden gate and a quieter pace of time begins.
In early summer, the approach to the inner gate forms a refreshing green canopy overhead.
The inner gate appears through dappled sunlight and flowers further along the path.
In June, hydrangeas line both sides of the approach — the scene that earns the temple its nickname.
From the Inner Gate to the Main Hall
The inner gate sits nestled into the greenery. Passing through feels like stepping into another world, away from the noise outside.
The wooden plaque at the center of the gate reads "Fukugenzan," the temple's mountain name. Simple but bold calligraphy quietly speaks to its age as an old temple.
The main hall appears right after the gate — white walls and wooden construction offering a quiet welcome.
White blossoms add a touch of color in spring, and the whole space naturally settles the mind.
Inside, soft lighting and flowers create a serene space, with light filtering in through the paper screens as part of the beauty.
This is the Window of Enlightenment as seen from inside the main hall — it's in a slightly easy-to-miss spot, so it's worth remembering ahead of your visit.
The Dry Landscape Garden
The dry landscape garden at Meigetsu-in — pine, stone, and raked white sand in quiet harmony.
The dry landscape garden in front of the main hall pairs carefully raked white sand with seasonal flowers. The shape of the pines and low-trimmed plantings gently express the Zen worldview. Just looking at it was enough to settle my thoughts.
Blue sky through pine branches, with colorful azaleas below.
Kaisando Hall
Tucked quietly at the back of the grounds, Kaisando is a thatched-roof hall housing a wooden statue of the temple's first head priest — one of the more solemn corners of the grounds.
Hydrangea-decorated ema plaques sway nearby, while light and shadow through the trees give the corner a distinctly Kita-Kamakura kind of quiet.
Tsurube-no-i Well
"Tsurube-no-i," on the grounds of Meigetsu-in, is one of the historic "Ten Wells of Kamakura." Dug vertically down through rock to draw spring water, it's still flowing with clear water today.
The Tsurube-no-i well, with its old-style bucket and rope still in place.
The wooden roof and rope-hung bucket give this well real character. The bamboo-covered opening and moss-covered stonework felt like a corner untouched by time.
Hydrangea Ema Plaques and a Garden of Moss and Maples
Meigetsu-in's ema plaques feature large hydrangea blossoms, a fitting motif for a temple known for exactly that flower.
The grounds also include a garden of moss and Japanese maples — soft green underfoot and dappled light through the leaves overhead, changing character with the seasons: bright and soft in early summer, fiery red in autumn.
Meigetsu-in's Rabbits
Walk the grounds and rabbit motifs turn up in unexpected places — stone statues, ema plaques, ornaments, and on my visit, an actual rabbit hutch. Watching the rabbits relax in the dappled sunlight is hard not to stop for.
The rabbit hutch at Meigetsu-in, with carp streamers overhead.
Meigetsu-in has a genuine connection to rabbits. Hojo Tokiyori, born in the Year of the Rabbit, is said to have inspired the rabbit's role here as a kind of guardian symbol, and its leaping motion is also read as a symbol of growth and prosperity. The rabbits scattered around the grounds aren't just decoration — they reflect a real thread of the temple's history and belief. Keeping an eye out for them as you walk is one more way to enjoy the visit.
FAQ
Q. What time should I visit Meigetsu-in?
A. Right after opening on a weekday, around 8:30–9:00 AM, is best. Weekends during hydrangea season in June get most crowded between roughly 10 AM and 2 PM, so aim for first thing in the morning, or a rainy day, for a calmer visit.
Q. How far is Meigetsu-in from Kita-Kamakura Station?
A. About an 8–10 minute walk. Head along the tracks toward Kamakura, then follow the signs through the residential neighborhood.
Q. When do the hydrangeas peak at Meigetsu-in?
A. Typically early to mid-June, with the peak around mid-June. Timing shifts a bit year to year, so it's worth checking the latest bloom status shortly before you go.
Q. What is Meigetsu-in known for?
A. Most famously, "Meigetsu-in blue" — the wall-to-wall blue hydrangeas that give it the nickname "Hydrangea Temple." It's also known for the garden view through the round Window of Enlightenment behind the main hall, and for autumn foliage later in the year.
Summary
Surrounded by the nature of Kita-Kamakura, Meigetsu-in is best known as a hydrangea destination, but it's just as much a quiet Zen temple with genuinely photogenic corners at every turn, the Window of Enlightenment chief among them. Fresh green in spring, hydrangeas in June, maples in autumn — walking the grounds through any of these seasons has a way of making the day's noise fall away.
The smaller details — the goshuin, the ema plaques, the rabbit motifs — tend to reveal something new each visit too. If you're planning a Kita-Kamakura walk, Meigetsu-in is well worth building into the route.
Articles from walking and photographing the Kamakura and Enoshima area myself, grouped by theme — temple visits like Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and Hase-dera, Enoden station highlights, one-day passes and train cars, and shopping streets and food. Use it as a reference for planning your own Kamakura walk.
Agoda
Expedia
Hotels.com
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu: Goshuin & Blessings
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu: Sake Barrel Guide
Kotoku-in: The Great Buddha
Meigetsu-in: Goshuin & Hydrangeas
Hase-dera: Flowers & Views
Gokuraku-ji: A Quiet Old Temple
Koyurugi Shrine: Ocean Views
Manpuku-ji: Enoden Photo Spot
Enoshima Complete Guide
Listed in order from Fujisawa to Kamakura, by Enoden station number (EN06–EN15).
EN06 Enoshima Station
EN07 Koshigoe Station
EN08 Kamakurakokomae Station
EN09 Shichirigahama Station
EN10 Inamuragasaki Station
EN11 Gokurakuji Station
EN12 Hase Station
EN15 Kamakura Station
