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Kamakura shrines & temples after closing 2016/7/5 18:09
Hi =)

I plan to visit Kamakura on 20. July 2016, but since I will have to go to university first, I will arrive at Kamakura station after 2 pm (and I will have to leave Kamakura around 8 pm). From there, I will take the bus to Hokokuji (looks like a beautiful garden/temple and I really wish to see a bamboo grove during my stay in Japan =) ), but I have a bit of trouble about what to visit afterwards: Most of the tempels seem to close around 4-5.30 pm.

A friend told me that Tsurugaoka Hachimangu doesn't have a gate, so its grounds can be visited even after opening hours. If this is right, I would put it on my "later that day" schedule. Do you know about any other tempels which can be visited after opening hours?

I think I might have the time for more tempel during opening hours and was thinking about Zuisenji because of its garden. What do you think?
by Mahunreah  

Re: Kamakura shrines & temples after closing 2016/7/6 10:51
Temple(寺/-tera -ji) is No!
BC temple is one of Private House/space for training of mind as "仏教/bukkyou(buddhism)".
Also "お坊さん/obou-san(monk)" and 住職/juu-syoku/(owner/master) family living usual.
Open for public means "service" as thanks not for "business(getting money)".
So Temple is NOT "Shrine(神社/jinja. -宮/-miya,-guu,-社/-sha as named)".
Management/Control is tight usual so open hours is fixed for keeping safe.

But "Shrine" is "神様/kami-same(God : not real human/also not only one)" living place no monk living.
Just managed by 神主/kannusi(Shinto priest) and 巫女/miko ladies(only larger one).
Mostly no "gate" for closing but placed "鳥居/torii" instead as 結界/kekkai(border).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii
http://ejje.weblio.jp/sentence/content/%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE+%E7%B5%90%E7...
Shrine open for public any people anytime
BC The Master is "God" so not Shinto Priest so need special manner for visiting.
https://youtu.be/PNhdornqYlk
Some major Shrines will close by real gate mainly National treasure belonging one.
But that ones are rare case not so many.

報国寺/Hokokuji also 瑞泉寺/Zuisenji are "Temple".
But 鶴岡八幡宮/Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is "Shrine" no open hours
however, shirine's shop for お守り/omamori(charm),おみくじ/omikuji(paper fortune) and more
and 社務所/詰所(staff office) will close.
鶴岡八幡宮 is not belonging 国宝/koku-hou(National treasure)
but one of "重要文化財:Juuyou-bunka-zai(Important Cultural Properties)" as Japan history's.

Again,
Temple is buddhism tranining space symbol is human "お釈迦様/oshaka-sama" mainly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha
Shrine is praying(sharing God power) spot symbol is "神/kami(God)".
Japanse are calling "Power spot" usual now
especially "love" and "success for business/pass for exam".
"Power spot" is not only "shrine" BC 神道(Shinto) is "life with nature" based.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kami
So shrine is a bit tolerant for public as "tourist spot" than temple.
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