Kamakura
Big Buddha’s Charm at the Coast
Slip away to secluded shrines and temples for tranquility one hour from Tokyo Station.
Sea breezes lift the air as you glance up hills to enormous Buddha. Surrounded by hills on three sides and an ocean beach on one side. The first shogun Yoritomo’s Samurai government established Kamakura as the capital from 1185 to 1333.
Discover Kamakura
Stroll Komachi-dori, the main tourist trail to browse interesting craft shops and cafes. Find more than souvenirs with trendy boutiques, gourmet cuisine. Nobel Laureate Yasunari Kawabata’s favourite coffee shop is in the area. A symphony of commerce. Kamakura Kitchoan Museum ceramics, Kamakurabori Museum showcases lacquerware. Two fine sword shops are tucked in the cobblestones streets. Sankai with a century of history and generations of wordsmiths at Masamune Workshop.
Taste whitebait, a local delicacy known as shirasu in every way, raw, with noodles, on a pizza, or on top of a rice bowl. Sweet toothed diners are catered with candied bean sweets and cookies.
Join floral enthusiasts during hydrangea season.
Temples and Shrines:
- Now peaceful walks await through hills from Kita-Kamakura above the famous Big Buddha at Kotokuin Temple. The Daibutsu Great Buddha also called “an open-air Buddha”, for sitting out in the sun for centuries. This 13th century symbol sits with a tender smile, 11.3 meters tall, the second tallest bronze Buddha in Japan complete with 1.8 meter long straw sandals. Double your worth at Zeniarai-benten, a money cleansing shrine. Pass the conceited spirits of Tengu, and flying monkeys.
- Kenjochi Zen temples, founded in 1253 with a classic fengshui alignment on a North South axis. Through the main gates ancient juniper trees line the path.
- Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine constructed by first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo.
- Hase Temple, the second oldest temple, enshrining the tall wooden statue of eleven-headed Hase Kannon in sparkling gold.
- Sasuke Inari Shrine with red torii gates to bring you in to deeper Kamakura.
- Hokokuji Temple nicknamed Bamboo Temple, breathe refreshing air in the bamboo forest.
- Sugimoto Temple, the oldest Buddhist dates back to the 8th century.
- Egara Tenjin, a shinto shrine enshrining deified Sugawara Michizane, the god of learning and scholarship.
- Jomyoji Temple stop for Matcha green tea with chestnut yokan at the tea ceremony house.
- Komyoji Temple, head temple of Jodo sect belief in the liberation of all beings, with the biggest wooden gate, two great ponds. In Summer, Lotus pond flowers blossom from 2000-year-old seeds. The rock garden has eight rocks representing Buddhas and great Buddhist masters.
Three beaches lie closeby, to try water sports at Yuigahama and Zaimokuza, and Koshigoe harbour for seafood. Journey along the Enoden Line for great views of Sagami Bay, Enoshima Island, and possibly the elusive Mt. Fuji. Enoshima Island is also worth a visit to discover legends of a dragon and sea goddess. Three shrines for goddesses of marine transportation, fishing, and traffic. Climb up on a lighthouse also called the “Sea Candle” for pinnacle viewing points.
