Kamakura's Myohonji Temple

Legend has it that one of the emperors servant's (Hiki Yoshimoto, 1222-1282), when returning to Kamakura was so impressed by a monk's street sermon that he asked to become his disciple.

Acting on advice from his new “teacher”, Yoshimoto decided to build a temple to console the spirits of his family who were violently assassinated many years previously during a feudal dispute.

This monk was called Nichiren who later became famous for establishing the Nichiren sect of Buddhism. As for Yoshimoto, hopefully this tranquil temple provided him with enough peace and comfort as it did for me when I visited here.