KAMAKURA

Kamakura  is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan, about 50 km south-south-west of Tokyo. Kamakura is famous for its many temples, shrines and the statue of the Great Buddha.

Surrounded by mountains on three sides and the open water of Sagami Bay on the fourth, Kamakura (Japanese: 鎌倉市; -shi) is a natural fortress. During the Heian period it was the chief city of the Kanto region, and from the 12th through 14th centuries the Minamoto shoguns ruled Japan from here under what is known as the Kamakura Shogunate.

Kamakura is now mainly known for its temples and shrines. Kōtoku-in, with the monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha, (The Great Buddha of Kamakura) is the most famous of these. A 15th Century tsunami destroyed the temple that once housed the Great Buddha, but the statue survived and has remained outdoors ever since. Magnificent Zen temples like Kencho-ji and Engaku-ji; the Tokei-ji (a nunnery that was a refuge for women who wanted to divorce their husbands); the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine; the Hase-dera, an ancient Kannon temple; the graves of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Hōjō Masako; and the Kamakura-gu where Prince Morinaga was executed, top the list of Kamakura's most famous historical and religious sites.

Kamakura has a beach which, in combination with the temples and the proximity to Tokyo, makes it a popular tourist destination. The city is well-provided with restaurants and other tourist-oriented amenities.

Kamakura is home to a microbrewery. The beer produced is only available locally and in bottles, and the range includes a pale ale, a pilsner style lager, and a stout.

Kamakura is also noted for its "senbei", which are crisp rice cakes grilled and sold fresh along the main shopping street. These are very popular with tourists, especially Japanese tourists.

Kamakura is also the terminal for the Enoshima Electric Railway, locally known as "Eno-den". This traditional narrow gauge railway runs to Fujisawa, to the west, and part of its route runs parallel to the seashore.

Great Buddha Kamakura - Picture by Jim Mills

Kamakura Attractions

Hase-dera
Kotokuin Temple including The Great Buddha of Kamakura
Yuigahama, a popular beach
Meigetsu-in
Tōkei-ji
Kenchō-ji
Zaimokuza Beach
Moto Hachiman Shrine
Chōshō-ji
Kuhon-ji
Anyō-in
Engaku-ji
Ankokuron-ji
Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine
Ōfuna Kannon
Kanagawa Prefectural Ofuna Botanical Garden
Tatsunokuchi, where Mongol emissaries were beheaded and buried.

Kamakura Tours

Organised tours from Tokyo to Kamakura are available. These tours also include the Great Buddha at Kotokuin Temple, Hase Kannon Temple, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and Komachi Shopping Street. Further information and online booking are here.

(Article based on Wikipedia article and used under the GNU Free Documentation License)