Kamakura: Top attractions of this popular tourist destination in Japan

Photography by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

Kamakura: from ancient political center to tourist city in 7 centuries

Kamakura is a Japanese city located in Kanagawa Prefecture. It is one of the most famous regions in Japan, being visited by tourists from all over the world. Less than an hour south of Tokyo, this coastal city was an important political center in Japan in the late 12th century, when Minamoto Yoritomo chose the city as the seat of the new military government.

For over a century, the city was Japan's major political center, until the Kamakura government fell in the 14th century, giving way for other cities to claim the title of political center. Currently, the city is heavily geared towards tourism.

Kamakura has become a very popular tourist destination. Also known as the Kyoto of eastern Japan, this city has many historic temples, monuments and shrines. Another highlight of the city is its beautiful beaches, which attract crowds in the summer months.

Kamakura's main tourist attractions

Now that you already know a little about this Japanese city, we have selected the main tourist attractions in the city. Check out some of these attractions below.

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The Great Buddha of Kamakura

The Big Buddha is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha located at Kotokuin Temple in Kamakura. At 11,4 meters tall, this is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in the country, second only to the statue at Todaiji Temple in Nara.

Cast in 1252, this ancient statue once stood in the temple hall. But due to the degradation of the temple due to typhoons and tsunamis, the statue was placed in the open air.

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Hokokuji Temple

Hokokuji Temple is a temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism that is isolated in the hills of eastern Kamakura. Founded still in the Muromachi period, when Kamakura was still a political center, at that time it belonged to the Ashikaga ruler's family and later became the Uesugi family.

This is a rather modest temple compared to other buildings of this type. The main hall was rebuilt around 1920 after the original building was destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake. In this temple, the main object of worship is the statue of Buddha Shaka Nyorai, a historical monument.

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Hiking Trails

The city of Kamakura is surrounded by forested hills. Within these hills there are trails that lead visitors to various historical and important places in the city, such as the atmospheric temples.

Kamakura's trails are great for traveling between the various sights in the city, in addition to offering enormous contact with nature and the city's natural beauties. Some of these trails are very fast, lasting about 30 to 90 minutes of walking. All of them are very worthwhile, both for those who enjoy nature and for those who want to know more about the city.

There are three main trails that connect some of the main attractions of the city, namely: Western Hills, Northern Hills and Eastern Hills.

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Enoshima Island

Located in West Kamakura, Enoshima is an island that can be accessed by a short train ride. It is a very touristic and pleasant island that is close to the coast of the city. On this island you can find several other tourist attractions, such as a sanctuary, an observation tower, a park and even caves. On days with good visibility, you can enjoy the view of Mount Fuji.

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Hasedera Temple

The Hasedera Temple is a temple of the Jodo sect very famous for housing the statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy who has eleven heads. Created in gilded wood, the Kannon statue is 9,18 meters tall, making it one of the largest wooden sculptures in the country.

In addition, in the temple you will also find the Kannon Museum, which is a small museum that displays various treasures from time, such as a bell, image scroll and Buddhist statues.

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Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

This is a historic shrine in Kamakura, being one of the most important in the city. Founded in 1063 by Minamoto Yoriyoshi, this shrine was moved and expanded in 1180 by Minamoto Yoritomo, who was the first shogun to represent the Kamakura government.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is a shrine dedicated to Hachiman, who is the patron god of the Minamoto family. That is, it is a tourist spot with a lot of history and culture.