Taya Caves, an underground wonder of ancient Buddhist artistry near Kamakura Today 06:00 am JST Today | 07:17 am JST KAMAKURA
Taya Caves is a sacred gem of Buddhist carvings in the grounds of Josen-ji Temple near Kamakura. This maze of halls and galleries is decorated with hundreds of reliefs carved into the rock, picturing Buddhist deities, past masters of Buddhism, famous temples, real and fantastic animals, mandalas, zodiac signs, and family crests.
The caves were excavated and sculpted by Shingon Buddhist monks between the Kamakura period (1192-1333) and the Edo period (1603-1868). Their history begins in the thirteenth century, when the first shogun established his government in the nearby city of Kamakura.