Hokokuji Temple — Bamboo Garden Meditation

**Tea ceremony experience:** After paying ¥300 temple entry, proceed to bamboo grove area at the rear. Pay additional ¥600 at tea pavilion for matcha service (抹茶席, matchaseki). Receive bowl of whisked matcha and seasonal wagashi sweet. Sit on bench within bamboo grove (or in small tea house if weather is poor). Drink matcha slowly while observing bamboo, listening to wind, practicing informal meditation. No formal tea ceremony training needed — this is casual contemplative experience rather than rigid ceremony. The ¥600 premium allows extended sitting in the grove (otherwise you must view bamboo from path and move on). Highly recommended — the bamboo atmosphere is the temple's essence. **Bamboo grove photography:** The grove is densest at the rear of temple grounds past the main hall. The bamboo stalks grow so closely that sky is barely visible — creating tunnel effect with green-filtered light. Best photography: overcast days (even, soft light without harsh shadows) or early morning/late afternoon (directional light creates depth through bamboo rows). Use wide-angle lens (16–35mm) shooting upward to emphasize bamboo height and density. Avoid weekends 11:00–14:00 when crowds make composition difficult. Weekday mornings (9:00–10:30) offer near-solitude. **Historical caves:** The hillside behind the main hall contains yagura (やぐら) — caves carved into soft rock as tombs for samurai and feudal lords. Some caves house stone statues of warriors who committed ritual suicide (seppuku) here after losing battles during the Kamakura Period. The caves are visible from paths but not explorable (protected historical sites). They add somber historical dimension beyond the bamboo grove's aesthetic appeal. The temple's history as witness to samurai honor and defeat creates contemplative atmosphere appropriate for Zen practice.