Hokokuji Temple (報国寺), a temple of the Kenchoji school of Rinzai Zen, will hold "Hokokuji Special Night Visits" in cooperation with accommodation providers in the Kamakura area (Kamakura Park Hotel (鎌倉パークホテル) and Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura (ホテルメトロポリタン 鎌倉)) and local partners, starting in November 2026. The project aims to create nighttime appeal for the ancient capital of Kamakura (revitalizing the night-time economy) and to promote sustainable tourism that is in harmony with the local community.
Hokokuji holds the top three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide Japon and is internationally recognized as the "Bamboo Temple." Its serene grounds can normally be visited only during limited daytime hours, but after closing the temple will be opened specially at night. In the clear air, visitors can enjoy the fantastical sight of about 2,000 lit-up moso bamboo stalks in a small group.
The project is a community co-creation initiative that avoids the bustle of daytime crowds and large-scale events, offering a refined Japanese experience while protecting the temple's original tranquility and historical value. In principle, the visits will be held regularly twice a month starting in November. Each participating business (Hokokuji, Kamakura Park Hotel, Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura, the Kamakura City Tourism Association (公益社団法人 鎌倉市観光協会), and others still being arranged) manages and offers its own limited number of spots, with a total of 80 guests per session.
Event Overview
- Dates: Saturday, November 7 and Saturday, November 21, 2026, followed in principle by regular sessions twice a month
- Hours: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM (last entry). To ease crowding, matcha and rakugan are served in staggered time slots (6:00 PM / 6:30 PM / 7:00 PM / 7:30 PM). Entry times differ in summer.
- Capacity: 80 guests in total per session (first come, first served; reservation required)
- Age: In principle, junior high school students and older, to ensure a quiet viewing environment and safety
- Included: Special night visit to Hokokuji, viewing of the lit-up bamboo grove, matcha and rakugan (traditional dry sweets) at the "Kyukoan" (休耕庵) tea house, and a seasonal limited-edition pre-written goshuin (temple stamp)
Details may change in case of rain.
Reservations
Reservations are accepted through each hotel's stay plan (a limited number of guaranteed spots) and through each participating business's booking desk.
- Kamakura Park Hotel (dedicated plan): https://www.kamakuraparkhotel.co.jp/
- Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura (dedicated plan with late checkout): https://kamakura.metropolitan.jp/
- Hokokuji (on-the-day desk, direct sales, etc.): https://houkokuji.or.jp/
- Kamakura City Tourism Association (on-the-day desk, direct sales, etc.): https://www.trip-kamakura.com/
Three Special Features of the Hokokuji Special Night Visit
1. Limited to 80 guests per session, with staggered tea times in an uncrowded temple
After general visiting hours end, the quiet grounds welcome only 80 guests per session, in a small-group format. By staggering the time slots for enjoying matcha and rakugan at the "Kyukoan" tea house, the temple avoids crowding in the grounds, so guests can take their time with the lit-up "bamboo garden."
2. A seasonal pre-written goshuin, plus matcha and rakugan at "Kyukoan"
Participants will receive a "seasonal pre-written goshuin," available only during the night visits. Guests can also enjoy matcha and rakugan at the "Kyukoan" tea house, where the breeze blows through the bamboo grove.
3. A guaranteed visit slot with a hotel stay plan (limited quantity)
By booking the "stay plan with visit ticket" at a participating hotel (Kamakura Park Hotel or Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura), guests can secure a spot for the special night visit as part of their stay. The dedicated stay plan at Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura includes the perk of late checkout (12:00 PM).
Participating Temple and Businesses
Hokokuji Temple (Kenchoji school of Rinzai Zen) (2-7-4 Jomyoji, Kamakura, Kanagawa)
Founded in 1334, Hokokuji is a renowned temple known as the "Bamboo Temple" and holds three stars in the Michelin Green Guide.
Kamakura Park Hotel (33-6 Sakanoshita, Kamakura, Kanagawa)
A small luxury hotel with a location overlooking Sagami Bay, with a focus on its interiors and on local Sagami Bay ingredients.
Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura (1-8-1 Komachi, Kamakura, Kanagawa)
A hotel operated by Japan Hotel Co., Ltd. (日本ホテル株式会社), a 2-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Kamakura Station and facing Wakamiya-oji Avenue, ideal as a base for sightseeing.
Kamakura City Tourism Association (1-12 Onarimachi, Kamakura, Kanagawa)
A community tourism organization that shares the rich history, culture and natural appeal of the ancient capital of Kamakura and promotes sustainable tourism-oriented town development.
