What kind of place is Kamakura?

. Kamakura City is a quiet historic city with many religious structures and not far from Tokyo, so there are many visitors at any time of the year. It was where the capital of the first shogunate, the government ruled by samurai warriors, was established in 1192. The city is surrounded by mountains on three sides and the forth side faces the Pacific Ocean, so it was easy to protect from enemy attacks.

One of the must-visit spot is the huge bronze statue of the Great Buddha sitting in the open air.

Must-see Spots

Dankazura is a raised lane to the shrine with cherry trees lined. Surrounded by mountains, rainfalls used to bring about mudslides here.

Tsurugaoka-Hachiman-gu Shrine is the guardian shrine of the Kamakura Shogunate, which is bustling with visitors during New Year holidays and cherry-blossom season.

Komachidori is the other street to the shrine. Relatively high-class souvenir shops and restaurants line up on both sides of the street

Hokokuji Temple is one of the Zen temples but is famous as Bamboo Temple. If you stand alone in this bamboo grove, you must feel refreshed and get energy.

Some famous poetess said the Great Buddh of Kamakura is handsome. But even a young girl can wrap him around her little finger.

Hasedera Temple with eleven-headed Kannnon was allegedly constructed in 736. It is called the Western Paradise of the Pure Land with a lot of flowers throughout the year.

Example of itinerary from Tokyo

Time	Dep./Arr.	Place	Comments
9:16	Departure	from Tokyo Station	JR Tokaido Line
10:08	Arrival	at Kamakura Station
10:10	Departure	from Kamakura Station	walk through Dankazura lane
10:35	Arrival	at Tsurugaoka-Hachiman-gu Shrine	guardian shrine of Genji clan
11:30	Departure	from Tsurugaoka-Hachiman-gu	walk through Komachidori street
11:40	Arrival	at a restaurant	lunch
12:50	Departure	from a restaurant	by bus
13:05	Arrival	at Hokokuji Temple	or bamboo temple
13:40	Departure	from Hokokuji	by bus
13:55	Arrival	at Kamakura sta.
14:00	Departure	from Kamakura sta.
14:15	Arrival	at Kotokuin	Open-air great Buddha
15:00	Departure	from Kotokuin	walk
15:10	Arrival	at Hasedera	with a lot of flowers
15:40	Departure	from hasedera	walk
15:50	Arrival	at Hase sta.	by Enoden Train
15:53	Departure	from Hase sta.
16:08	Departure	from Kamakura sta. to Tokyo sta.	JR
16:59	Arrival	Tokyo sta.

Location Map

① Kamakura Station ② Dankazura Lane ③ Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine

④ Komachi Dori Street ⑤ Hokokuji Temple ⑥ Kotokuin Temple (Great Buddha)

⑦ Hase-dera Temple