2026 Zuisen-ji Temple (瑞泉寺) Garden Stroll: A Full Day Course

This is a day to enjoy gardens and flowers at Zuisen-ji Temple (瑞泉寺), tucked at the very back of a Kamakura valley in Nikaido (二階堂). The temple is open for viewing from 9:00 to 16:30, year-round, with admission of 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students. It is known for its garden carved out of bedrock, said to have been created by the National Teacher Musō (夢窓国師), and the grounds are called the 'Temple of Flowers' for good reason — there is always something new to discover, whichever season you visit. The plan is to pay your respects at Egara Tenjin Shrine (荏柄天神社) and Kamakura-gu Shrine (鎌倉宮) in the morning, then take your time enjoying the stillness of Zuisen-ji in the afternoon. There is a parking lot, but this is a temple and shrine walk through the Nikaido area that also lets you enjoy a stroll through a classic Kamakura neighborhood.