Kamakura
Kamakura (鎌倉市, Kamakura-shi) is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about 50 km south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called Renpu (鎌府, Renpu) (short for Kamakura Bakufu (鎌倉幕府, or Kamakura Shogunate)). Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is sometimes considered a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the Kamakura Period.
Kamakura is a very popular day trip from Tokyo for locals and tourists alike, and there are plenty of transportation options.
Kamakura's sights are scattered around the city. Most visitors make a beeline for the Great Buddha and stop off at Hase Kannon on the way; these sights can be very crowded on weekends and holidays.
Sights:
- Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu (鶴岡八幡宮)
- Myohonji Temple (妙本寺)
- Kōtokuin (高徳院), home of the famous Great Buddha (大仏 Daibutsu)
- Hase-dera (長谷寺), also Hase Kannon, home to the largest wooden statue in Japan, representing Buddhist deity Kannon
- Zeniarai Benten Shrine (銭洗い弁天)
- Engakuji (円覚寺), number two of Kamakura's Five Zen Temples
- Kenchōji (建長寺), number one of Kamakura's Five Zen Temples
- Tōkeiji (東慶寺)
- Jōmyōji (浄妙寺)
- Sugimotodera (杉本寺)
- Shakado Kiritoshi (釈迦堂切り通し)
- Hōkokuji (報国寺)
Kamakura has a beach which, in combination with the temples and the proximity to Tokyo, makes it a popular tourist destination. It is also noted for its senbei, crisp rice cakes grilled and sold fresh along the main shopping street. These are very popular with tourists.
External links
Some content adapted from Wikipedia.org.
