Overview
Ensho-ji is a temple of the Kencho-ji branch of the Rinzai Zen school, located in Inagi, western Tokyo. Set in a corner of the Tama Hills where residential streets meet wooded slopes, it is known as a Rinzai Zen temple carrying on the lineage of Kencho-ji, the great temple of Kamakura. An air of taut composure typical of Rinzai Zen, which prizes koan study and seated meditation, pervades the grounds, making it a quiet place to visit for those wishing to settle the mind amid daily life.
Highlights
- ●The taut Rinzai Zen air carrying on the Kamakura Kencho-ji lineage
- ●A quiet setting distinctive to Inagi, opening onto the Tama Hills
- ●A bearing typical of Rinzai Zen, which values koan and meditation
- ●Hill and woodland scenery shifting with the seasons
History
The Kencho-ji branch to which Ensho-ji belongs takes as its head temple Kencho-ji, ranked first among the Five Mountains of Kamakura. That this lineage reached the Tama district near the samurai capital of Kamakura speaks to the historical ties between this area and the cultural sphere of Kamakura. The temple's path as a Zen sanctuary rooted in the Inagi countryside is best confirmed through official information or on-site guidance.
Access
The temple is in Inagi, western Tokyo, at roughly 35.65 N, 139.49 E. It lies within the Inagi city area spread across the Tama Hills, so access is generally by bus or on foot from a station on the Keio Sagamihara Line or the JR Nambu Line. As the hilly terrain has its ups and downs, checking the latest routes through official sources before visiting is advisable.
Best season
Spring at cherry-blossom time and autumn dressed in colored leaves are recommended. Inagi is also known for the greenery of the Tama Hills and its orchards, and the hill scenery that changes with the seasons makes the journey to and from the temple a pleasure. The rain-washed green of the rainy season, too, suits the stillness of a Zen temple well.
Map
35.6466, 139.4918 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Reach Ensho-ji by bus or on foot from a Keio Sagamihara or JR Nambu Line station
- 2Pray on the grounds and take in the taut air of Rinzai Zen
- 3Pause to view the greenery of the Tama Hills and the Inagi countryside
- 4On the way back, round off the visit with a walk through Inagi or the hill paths
Did you know?
💡 The name Ensho carries a Zen resonance of a perfect light shining everywhere. Temples named Ensho-ji exist in many places, but this is the Rinzai Kencho-ji-branch temple in Inagi. It is distinct from similarly named temples in Nara and elsewhere, so confirm it is the Ensho-ji of Inagi when you visit.
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