Meigetsu-in, the "Bright Moon Hermitage", was built by Yamanouchi Tsunetoshi in 1160 in order to console the departed soul of his father, Toshimichi, who died in the battle of Heiji (1159) fought between the clans of Minamoto and Taira. The site was taken over by Hojo Tokiyori (1227-1263), the fifth regent of the Kamakura, who transformed it into a Buddhist temple when he stepped down as ruler. From the moon-shaped doorway of the main building you can see the alternating dry landscape gardens and fields of irises. The tombs are hewn into the rock to spare what room there is for open-air meditation.