Meigetsu-in, the hydrangea temple

photo by おにく · CC0

The round window looks onto a garden that opens twice a year, in June and in November.

The entrance path is a narrow flight of steps between hydrangeas taller than a person, and in June photographers block it while waiting for it to empty; the temple does not forbid it, so you walk on through. At the far end, behind the main hall, is the 悟りの窓, a round window looking onto an inner garden. That garden costs a separate ticket and opens only twice a year.

There are about 2,500 hydrangeas, and over 95% of them are a single variety, the hime-ajisai, of a blue that people here call ‘Meigetsu-in blue’. The garden behind the main hall opens to the public in two windows: in June for the irises and from late November to early December for the maples.

ℹ️ Open 9:00–16:00; in June 8:30–17:00, last entry 16:30. Tickets 500 yen for adults, 300 for elementary and junior high school students, free for people with disabilities. The inner garden costs 500 yen extra and is open only during the two windows. ⚠️ In June it is very crowded: to have the steps without the crowds you need to be in the queue by 8:15. Ten minutes' walk from Kita-Kamakura.

🚉 Kita-Kamakura · 10 min walk

Sources: kanagawa-kankou.or.jp · enokama.jp · jw-webmagazine.com · 4travel.jp

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