Kamakura is a small city in the prefecture of Kanagawa, just an hour’s travel south of Tokyo, which happens to be the birthplace of  Japan’s first Shogunate and served as Japan’s political capital from 1185 to 1333. It’s a popular tourist attraction among the local citizenry for its high concentration of temples and historical sites. Kamakura is a perfect day trip from Tokyo, its mountains and beaches adding to the charm of this former capital of Japan.

Kotokuin: The Great Buddha is the second-highest Buddha statue in Japan. A 15-minute walk from Kamakura station by foot, you can find out more about the 13.35-meter tall Great Buddha in this article.

Hasedera Temple: This site contains a wooden statue; the 11-headed goddess of mercy, Kannon. This 9.8 meter-high gilded carving is the highest of its kind in the country and features different expressions with each head, while looking in every direction. The temple is just 500 yards south of the Great Buddha.
Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine: the largest Shinto shrine in Buddhist Kamakura, built by Yoritomo Minamoto. A million people visit this shrine to witness during new year’s day to witness the first sunrise of the year. Twice a year, yobusame demonstrations are performed in this area, where archers on horseback at full gallop attempt to hit their targets dead-on.

The Kamakura Kokuho-kan (Kamakura Treasure Museum) is located to the right of Hachiman-gu Shrine. For a small fee, you can see a collection of artifacts from the Kamakura era. The shrine is merely a 10-minute walk from Kamakura station.

Monhon-ji Temple: the cemetery contains the grave of the Kazuho Mitsuta, the creator of Ultraman, a popular futuristic TV show that started in the 1960’s.

Zeniarai Benten Shrine: A spot famous for a local legend, which claims that any money washed in the waters of the cave will double. You can also purchase an o-mamori (protective charm) and have the kannushi (Shinto priest) use a flint to strike sparks over it to increase it’s effect. The shrine, which is dedicated to Buddhist goddess Benten, can be reached through a long tunnel. The shrine is 15-25 minutes away west of Kamakura Station by walking.

Tokei-ji : A famous nunnery which sheltered abused women during Japan’s feudal era. Victims of domestic violence can stay here for 3 years and thus gain the right for a divorce; this allowed it to earn the name kakekomidera (fugitive temple). Tokei-ji, the only surviving member of a 5 great nunneries in Kamakura, is also famous for its ume (Japanese plums).

Kamakura Gozan: Commonly known as the five mountains, these five great Zen temples were utilized to promote Zem Buddhism throughout the country. Engakuji Temple contains a large temple bell, a teahouse and a shrine which houses a sacred tooth of Buddha. It commemorates the samurai who fell defending the country from the Mongol invaders during the 12th century. Jyufukuji Temple is known for its founding priest Eisai, who introduced green tea to Japan. Jochiji Temple houses a seated wooden Buddha with sleeves and skirts. Kenchoji Temple is the oldest of the five and the first monastery in the country to be solely devoted to Rinzai Zen practice. Jyomyoji is known for its enormous roof and allows visitors to participate in a tea ceremony overlooking a Zen garden.

The best time to visit Kamakura is between the second and third Sundays of April each year, when the annual Kamakura festival is celebrated. Besides the horseback archery, there are also reenactments on the ritual dance stage where Yoritomo forced his rival Yoshitsune’s Lady Shizuka to dance for him. However, her dance expressed her undying love and sorrow for Yoshitsune and for this, Yoritomo had her children killed. To get to Kamakura, take the JR Yokosuka line from Tokyo headed for Zushi/Kurihama and get down at Kamakura station. Once you arrive, you may go about visiting the sites on your own or joining up with any of the 11 walking tours organized by the city. Temples will warn you that the many statues found within their walls are not merely objects of art and history, but holy artifacts, and must be treated with respect. Voices must be kept muted and when required, cameras must be stowed away.

Posted in Attractions, Japan

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