I went to Komyoji temple in Kamakura that was built in 1243.
Kamakura is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture,once it was a political capital along with Nara and Kyoto.
It is a popular place for cherry blossom viewing.
And it’s also called “Neko Tera (Cat Temple)”.
Because there are some cats living on the grounds.

I visited there at 10 April 2017 when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.
(They are fully bloomed between the end of March and beginning of April every year.)
But I couldn’t take beautiful pictures because it was cloudy, so I went there at 12 April again when it was sunny.

All of the photos are taken by iPhone7 Plus.

Somon(the main gate).
It was built in 1495 and designated cultural property in Kamakura city.

There are public lavatory in the same place.

Sanmon gate and cherry blossoms.

Shoro(belfry) and cherry blossoms.

Daido(main temple) and cherry blossoms.
It was built in 1698 and is the biggest wooden old building in Kamakura city.

Pond and cherry blossoms at Kinushi garden that is connected with Daido by a corridor.
A building on the left is Taishokaku that was built for the 800th Buddhist memorial services for Honen.

Hanei Inari Daimyojin and cherry blossoms.

Kaizando Hall.
The spirits of head of a Buddhist sect were are enshrined.

By buying the ticket(500 yen) at office, you can enter into Sanmon gate.

Entrance of Sanmon gate.
You need to be careful not to hit your head on the pillar above.

By climbing the steep stairs,you can go to the top of Sanmon gate.

On the other side, you can see the beach of Yuigahama in the distance.
In the sunny day, you can also see Mt.Fuji.

There were many statues inside the building.

These scenery were so beautiful.
But I couldn’t any cat at all!!
So I asked the staff at office about cats.
She said that cats escaped to anywhere when there were many people.

So I walked and looked for them carefully around the corner.
Then there was one cat!

Another cat appeared.
They escaped when I got too close.
So I took photo with the camera zooming in.

They were gathering around the Grave for animals.

You can also find cats around the Enmei Jizouson.

This one was especially cute!!

But in the end, the most beautiful picture of cherry blossoms and animal was this.
I happened to take picture of this cute toy poodle.
It was taking a walk with a woman in the neighborhood.
Basically you can enter into shrine or temple with pets.
But this temple allows to do it.

Truthfully I wanted to take a picture of the cat with cherry blossoms, but it was so hard than I thought.

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□ Information □

【Date of visit】
10:00 ～ 12:00 of 10 April 2017.
8:00 ～ 9:00 of 12 April 2017.

【Opening hour】
7:00 to 16:00

【Admission Fee】
Free
In the cherry blossom season you can enter Sanmon gate(500 yen).

【Access】
・By bus
Kamakura station of JR line → take the bus to Zushi station (#40) at platform No.7 → about 10 minutes ride → get off at Komyoji-mae bus stop → 1 minute walk

・By car

They have a free parking lot between Somon and Sanmon gate.
But you can’t use it when the any event is held.
There are some pay parking lots in the neighborhood.

In the summer(between mid of July and end of August) half of parking lot becomes toll zone for the sea bathers.