Hansobo Shrine
This shrine is dedicated to Hansobo, the Shinto deity whose main role is to protect Kenchoji Temple against fire. The deity was brought from the Hokoji Temple in Shizuoka Prefecture. In 1890, the spirit of Hansobo was divided and moved to Kenchoji.
Hansobo is thought to take the physical form of a tengu, a legendary goblin-like creature said to live in mountains and forests. The 12 statues on the way to the shrine are Hansobo’s attendants in the form of karasu (crow) tengu.
On a clear day, it is possible to see the beaches of Kamakura as well as Mt. Fuji from the lookout platform beside the shrine. For an even higher vantage point, there is a series of 180 steep steps beside the shrine leading further up the hill.