Yokohama’s Shomyo-ji Temple

Feel heaven in the “Land of Perfect Bliss”

Tomoko Kamishima May 19, 2012 - 1 min read

Cross over the bridge and enter the simple world of the Buddha.

Yellow iris grace the banks of the pond in May.

April brings the cherry blossoms...and a lot of local people.

At night during cherry blossom season, the rear approach to the temple is lit up with lanterns.

At night where there is the magic of the lanterns outside the gate, the inside is calm, dark and comforting.

Shomyo-ji Temple was established in 1258 as a family temple of Hojo Sanetoki, one of the Kamakura clans.

Outside the gate there are food stands, eating and drinking.

The pond reflecting a land of perfect bliss.

Shomyo-ji Temple was established in 1258 as a family temple of Hojo Sanetoki, one of the Kamakura clans. The Jodo-style garden of the temple is called the Land of Perfect Bliss, and has a lake and a red arched bridge over it. The bridge connects the world of Buddha with our human world. When cherry blossom season comes, local people get together and enjoy the flowers under the trees, but the temple is actually very beautiful year round.

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Find out more about Shomyoji Temple.

Tomoko Kamishima @tomoko.kamishima

Japan is a small island nation, but we have a huge number of surprising things to discover here. Many of these delights can be found when you step off the main street onto small side paths. I really enjoy studying about and researching various aspects of traditional Japanese culture, and then sha...