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Where it's at
Kamakura, a populous resort town and historic center,
makes for a great day trip from nearby Tokyo. It has
no less than 65 Buddhist temples and 19 Shinto shrines, set
in a dramatic natural amphitheater amongst woods on three
sides and the sea taking centre stage. Entry to each temple
or shrine typically costs between 200 ($2) and 300 ($3) yen.
History of the city of Kamakura
Kamakura was built in the 12th and 13th centuries by warrior
Yoritomo Minamoto, who chose the location as it was
far from the imperial court in Kyoto and easy to defend. It's
the home of the Go-zan, the five famous Zen temples
of Kamakura, which were inspired by the five great Zen temples
of China. Kamakura soon became the Japanese center of the
newly imported Zen Buddhism religion. But the real treasures
are the Shinto shrines nestled amongst connecting trails
and lanes in the mountains.
Best sights
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, to the god of war, is
situated at the end of a cheery tree-lined lane which stretches
back to the crowded Yigahama Beach.
- The Keniarai-Benten Shrine is dedicated to the goddess
of the arts, one of the "seven lucky gods". If you
go on the zodiac day of the snake and wash your coins in the
nearby cave's spring water, it is believed that the money
will double or triple in the future.
- The giant 37ft Great Buddha of Kotokuin Temple,
a bronze cast from 1252 AD, is Kamakura most famous postcard
image. Set serenely outdoors with the hills as a backdrop,
it has survived numerous earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons
over the centuries. It's hollow so you can even step inside.
- The Hase Kannon Temple's statue of the Goddess of
the Sea has an interesting legend; two statues were made from
a giant camphor tree, one kept in Hase, the other cast into
the sea, ending up in a town where all who touched it incurred
bad luck. When it eventually floated to Kamakura it caused
no trouble, a sign that the goddess was content in her new
home.
- Kita Kamura (north Kamura) houses three of Kamikura's
five great Zen Buddhist temples. Here you can enjoy
delicious Zen vegetarian food amidst the tranquil wooded gullies.
- Tokei-ji Temple, the 'divorce temple' may interest
wandering wives: under old Japanese law only men could apply
for divorce, but if a woman spent three years in the temple
she could choose to divorce her husband.
- You can't miss the thousand or so statues of Jizo,
the guardian of children. They are donated by grieving parents
and usually represent miscarried, stillborn or aborted babies,
but are burnt every year to make way for the numerous latest
offerings.
Visiting Kamakura
Kamakura is just one hour by train from Tokyo. Most weekends
you can request an English-speaking volunteer student guide
to show you the sights. Just get to the Kamakura Station
around 10am to grab one. |
