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 Located
an hour south of Tokyo is the coastal town of Kamakura in the Kanagawa
prefecture. Once the political center of Japan under the Minamoto
shogunate and the Hojo regents, Kamakura remained its political stature
in Eastern Japan until it lost its position to other cities sometime in
the 14th century.
Today, Kamakura, also recognized as the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, is a
very popular destination for tourists with its sixty-five temples,
eighteen shrines and other historical monuments. Sandy beaches lining
Kamakura’s coastline are also an added attraction particularly during
the hot summer months.
Perhaps the most visited Kamakura attraction is the giant bronze statute
of the Buddha called the Diabutsu. It was said that in the year 1452,
the giant statue which was originally placed in a temple about a mile
away, was carried by a freak of nature- a giant tsunami- to where it
stands today.
The Enoden, a tiny, ancient train that chugs its way from Kamakura to
Fujisawa is a popular, though staid way to get to Yokohama. Kamakura
also houses two museums - the Nagao Museum of traditional Japanese art,
and a Modern Art museum.
Sights Not to Miss
 1.
The Great Buddha of Kamakura (Diabutsu)
The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha that is
located on the grounds of the Kotokuin Temple. With a height of 13.35
meters, it is the second largest Buddha statue in Japan (the largest is
located in the Todaiji Temple in Nara).
Cast in 1252, the statue was originally located inside a large temple
hall. However, the temple buildings were washed away by a tsunami tidal
wave in the end of the 15th century, and since then the Buddha stands in
the open air.
 2.
Hachimangu
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is Kamakura's most important shrine. It was
founded by Minamoto Yoriyoshi in 1063, and enlarged and moved to its
current site in 1180 by Minamoto Yoritomo, the founder and first shogun
of the Kamakura government.
The shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, the patron god of the Minamoto
family and of the samurai in general. The deified spirits of the ancient
Emperor Ojin who has been identified with Hachiman, Empress Jingu and
Emperor Chuai are enshrined in the main buildings of the Tsurugaoka
Hachimangu Shrine.
 3.
Hase Kannon Temple
A temple of the Jodo sect, the temple is more known for its statue of
Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The statue shows Kannon with eleven heads,
each representing a characteristic of the goddess. The 9.18 meter tall,
gilded wooden statue is regarded as the largest wooden sculpture in
Japan, and can be viewed in the temple's main building.
 4.
Kenchoji Temple
Kenchoji is the main temple of the Kenchoji school within the Rikai sect
of Zen Buddhism. It is the number one of Kamakura's five great Zen
temples.
Kenchoji was founded by Hojo Tokiyori in 1253. It is one of the oldest
Zen temples of Japan, and the first one built in Kamakura. Its first
head priest was Rankei Doryu, a Zen priest from China. Behind the
main hall (Hojo), a nice zen garden can be found. The temple bell (Bonsho)
has been designate a national treasure.
 5.
Zeniarai Benten
The Zeniarai Benten Shrine is a popular shrine in western Kamakura.
People flock to the shrine in order to wash their money (zeniarai means
"coin washing"). It is said that money washed in the shrine's spring,
will double.
According to legend, Minamoto Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura
government, ordered the shrine's construction after a god appeared in
his dream and recommended him to build the shrine in order to bring
peace to the country. Because the dream occurred on the day of the
snake, in the month of the snake of the year of the snake, the shrine
was later also dedicated to Benten, a Buddhist goddess associated with
snakes.
Zeniarai Benten Shrine is a nice surviving example of the fusion of
Buddhism and Shinto. Many other shrines were stripped of their Buddhist
connections when the Meiji government attempted to emancipate and
separate Shinto from Buddhism.
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