The approach to Jufuku-ji Temple, one of the five temples of Kamakura, was quaint

There are many shrines and temples in Kamakura, but there is a clear distinction between those that are visited by large numbers of tourists and those that are not. While Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Hasedera Temple, and Kotokuin Temple which houses the Big Buddha, are always full of visitors, less well-known shrines and temples are often deserted. The Jufuku-ji temple I visited on this day was the latter. Stopping in front of the temple gate right next to the Yokosuka railway line, I did not see a single worshipper.

However, it would be misleading to write that the temple is simply deserted. The Jufuku-ji Temple is not open to the public, so even if visitors came to the temple, they would not be able to see the temple grounds. So it is no wonder that no visitors come to the temple.

The reason I came to the temple, which is not open to the public, was because I heard that the approach to the temple is beautiful, even though one cannot enter the temple grounds. After passing through the gate by the railroad tracks, a stone-paved approach road stretches between trees. It is indeed a beautiful approach. At the top of a gentle slope, the middle gate can be seen. Anyone can enter up to this gate. I went there myself. I stretched out my neck to look inside the gate, and then went back down the approach to look at the gate from the mountain gate.

Many people seem to think the same way as I do, and as I look down the approach, visitors occasionally climb up to the middle gate and come back after a while. They all move up and down in the same way. Watching the up-and-down movement on the slope reminded me of Hakone Tozan cable car.

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