The Tanuki-mon from Kencho-ji, Kamakura

There are two interesting legends connected with the Sanmon Gate of Kencho-ji, Kamakura. One of them is about the ghost appearance of Kajiwara Kagetoki, a samurai who fought in the Genpei War.

Another, even more unusual legend tells the story of a mythical character from the Japanese folktales, a tanuki. According to this legend, the tanuki, well-known for its shape-shifting abilities, once transformed into a monk and collected funds for the temple, as thanks for the good treatment received here. With the funds thus raised, the monks erected the Sanmon in 1754 and that's why the gate is also known as Tanuki-mon, meaning the "Tanuki Gate".