Kamakura Japan, A Historical Journey To The Former Capital

Big cities are great to visit as they have so much to see and do in a short time. However not all travelers are awed by neon lights and large pointless shopping malls with rows and rows of shops that are nowadays mostly franchised which means after visiting the first mall the 2^nd and 3rd mall visit seems rather pointless as the shops are selling the exact same products with the same prices but in different buildings.  So after visiting so many large and wonderful cities this year, we decided to look at visiting a city filled with culture and history with little modern stylish shopping included. We were in Tokyo for business and heard about the ancient city of Kamakura, which is a coastal city just south of Tokyo. It is just about an hours train travel from the Tokyo central ‘JR’ train station. The fare is just 890Yen one-way on the JR Yokosuka Line and after hearing about it from our tour guide we decided a day visit would suffice.

The train journey is pleasant itself and you arrive at the previous capital of Japan (yes, Kamakura was formerly the capital of Japan) surrounded by foggy skies. Kamakura is famous for its Great Buddha statues and the large number of shrines and temples that dot the city landscape.  The first thing you notice about any city in Japan is its public transport system. Getting around Kamkura is easy as there are buses and also a streetcar train which we recommend as this reminds us of an age far forgotten in Asia.  Before you leave the station, pls visit the tourist information booth and get yourself a free English map. This is very detailed and easy to understand in minutes.

You need to wear a light jacket and some proper walking shoes as some of the shrines sit on a large expanse of land and there are stairs to be climbed. If you start early in the day, then avoid a large breakfast and snack along the way as that is the best way to stay light and enjoy the variety of food available. When you arrive after your train ride you should be hungry and you must try Kamakura’s local food starting with its ‘senbei’, which are crisp rice cakes grilled and sold fresh along the main shopping street. This are very popular with tourists, especially Japanese tourists but try some and you will love it if you are into japanese food. Kamakura has many historically significant buddist temples and shinto shrines, some of them, like Sugimoto-dera, over 1200 years old. Kotuko-in with its monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida buddha, is the most famous. A 15th century tsunami storm destroyed the temple that once housed the great buddha , but the statue survived and has remained outdoors ever since. This iconic Daibutsu is arguably amongst the few images which have come to represent Japan in the world’s collective imagination. Kamakura also hosts the so-called Five Great Zen Temples (the Kamakura Gozan). The architectural heritage of Kamakura is almost unmatched, and the city has proposed a total of 23 historic sites for inclusion in Unesco’s world heritage sites list. It must be remembered, however, that much of the city was devastated in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and that many temples and shrines, however founded centuries ago, are physically just careful replicas.

The biggest of all shrines at Kamakura and a must visit for all tourists is the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. The shrine was built by Yoritomo in the 12th century and dedicated to Hachiman, the Shinto god of war and patron of the Minamoto family. The shrine is located at the top of 62 wide steps so take it slow and not rush up the stairs. A gingko tree to the left of the stairs is thought to be about 1,000 years old and believed to be the site of a vicious act of feudal violence in 1219. The best times of the year to visit Kamakura is on the months around April and September. The weather is best and also there are a host of activities around the city.

Not forgetting the observation tower where you get a majestic view of the whole city as well as the coastline. A quick dinner and on the train and you can return to your Tokyo hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Kamakura, Japan Details