KAMAKURA

KOMACHI-DORI STREET As there is a shopping street Nakamise Street in Asakusa leading to the Sensoji Temple, so is Komachi-dori Street in Kamakura leading to Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine. The Komachi-dori Street spreads from the rotary in front of Kamakura station to the north toward Kamakura Hachiman-gu Shrine. The street is lined with 246 restaurants, boutiques, fancy cafes, sweet dafes, and stores selling souvenirs and sundry articles unique to the ancient city according to the Kamakura Chamber of Commerce. Statistics in 2014. Access: Kamakura Station on JR Yokosuka Line Telephone: 0467-23-2561 (Kamakura Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
		more photos

Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine Peony Garden The Peony Garden of Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine is open two times a year from New Year's Day to the middle of February, and from the beginning of April until the middle of May. Please check opening dates with the Shrine since they differ each year based on the flowering of the peonies. The peony garden was completed in 1980 to commemorate the 800the anniversary of the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. (Photos were taken on April 19 in 2015) URL: http://www.tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp/ Time: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission: 500 yen Telephone: 0467-22-0815 Access: The Peony Garden is located inside the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine
		more photos

New Year's Days (Jan. 1 through 3) visitors at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura ranked the 5th in the nation at 2.5 million in 2009. (1 Meiji Jingu, 2 Naritasan 3. Kawasaki Daishi, 4 Fushimi Inari in Kyoto). Visits to shrines on the New Year Days are important in the life of Japanese people. It is called "Hatsu Mairi" First visit to the shrine in the year. The purpose is to pray for a bright and happy year. At shrines, special charms to protect the happiness of worshippers are issued or sold such as "hamaya" (a sacred arrow which protects people from evil) and "omikuji" a slip of paper in which one's fortune is written. URL: http://www.tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp/ Access: Kamakura Station on JR Yokosuka Line. Telephone: 0467-22-0315
		more photos

The giant ginkgo tree familiar to the visitors of the shrine standing to the left of the stairway to the main hall of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura is no more! A strong wind storm which hit Kanto from Tuesday to Wedneday (March 9 and 10, 2010) uprooted the majestic ginkgo tree early Wednesday morning at around 4 a.m. The tree is believed to have stood there for 1,000 years. The ginkgo tree predated the shrine history and the legend tells it was used as a hideout in an ambush attack on the third shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate Minamoto no Sanetomo (1192-1219) by Kugyo his nephew thus terminating the clan of the Seiwa Genji line of the Minamoto clan and their rule in Kamakura.
		more photos

Cherry Blossoms in Kamakura Kotokuin Temple - Great Buddha (Daibutsu) at Kotokuin Temple was cast in 1252. 1498. A tidal wave swept away the great temple of the Buddha leaving only its foundation stones but did not injure the Buddha's body. URL: http://www.kotoku-in.jp/ Address: 4-2-28 Hase, Kamakura City Access: Hase Station on Enoshima Dentetsu Railway Telephone: Kotoku-in Temple 0467-22-0703 Engakuji Temple in Kita Kamakura is the head temple of the Engakuji branch of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism. The temple was founded in 1282 by a Chinese Zen monk Mugaku Sogen at the request of Hojo Tokimune - eighth regent of the Kamakura shogunate. Address: 409 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City Access: 1 minute from Kita Kamakura Station on JR Yokosuka Line URL: http://www.engakuji.or.jp/about.html Telephone: 0467-22-0478 Admission: 300 yen Kenchoji Temple in Kamakura is the headquarter of the Kenchoji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. The temple was founded in 1249 by the fifth Kamakura shogunal regent Hojo Tokiyori (1227-1263). Address: 8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City, Kangawa Prefecture URL: http://www.kenchoji.com/ Access: 15 minutes walk from Kita Kamakura Station on JR Yokosuka Line Telephone: 0467-22-0981 Admission: 300 yen
		more photos

Hydrangea (Ajisai) at Meigetsu-in Meigetsu-in Temple is famous as "ajisai-dera" (hydrangea temple) in Kamakura. The colour of Ajisai flowers is said to change from green and yellow to a blue and almost purple according to the qualities (acidities) of soils. Acid soils produce more bluish blossoms and alkaline more pink. Characteristics of the hydrangea at Meigetsu-in are that they are all blue in color and the plants are original Japanese. Address: 189 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture Access: Kita-Kamakura Station on JR Yokosuka Line and 10 minutes walk. Telephone: 0467-24-3437 Admission: 300 yen Open: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (during hydrange season) (photos taken June 6)
		more photos

Hydrangea (Ajisai) at Jojuin Jojuin Temple is located near Gokurakuji Station on Enoshima Dentetsu Line. The temple is on the top of a hill close to the ocean. On both sides of a narrow path running down to the coast are hydrangea flowers of various colors. Enjoy a grand view! The temple is a walking distance from another famous ajisai (hydrangea) temple Hase Kannon. Address: 1-1-5 Gokurakuji, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture Access: Gokurakuji Station on Enoshima Dentetsu Line Telephone: 0467-22-3401 Admission: Free (photos taken June 6)
		more photos

Hydrangea (Ajisai) at Hasedera Hasedera (Hase Kan-non) is a big temple of Jodo Sect of Japanese Buddhism and probably is the most famous hydrangea viewing spot in Kamakura. It deserves the fame in scales as well as in varieties of the plant. Along a hillside are huge amount of hydrangeas. Inside the temple are the beautiful Japanese garden, a pond, a giant statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, historical buildings, rows of small statues of jizo (the guardian deity of children), etc. The temple is close to the Daibutsu of Kamakura. Address: 3-11-2 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture Access: Hase Station on Enoshima Dentetsu Line Telephone: 0467-23-3050 (Kamakura City Sightseeing Association) Admission: 300 yen (photos taken June 6)
		more photos

White Lotus Flowers at Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. Lotus (Hasu in Japanese) grows in ponds and marshes and has very large roots which are eaten as vegetables (renkon). It puts flowers of either pink or white in middle of July to middle of August opening in the early morning and closing in the afternoon. At Tsurugaoka Hachiman, the colors of Hasu flowers are mostly white . Hasu is a sacred flower closely connected with Buddhism. Many images of of the Buddha show him seated on lotus petals or leaves. Address: 2-1-31 Yukinoshita, Kamakura City, Kanagwa Prefecture. Access: Kamakura Station on JR Yokosuka Line and Enoshima Dentetsu Railways. Telephone: 0467-22-0315
		more photos

Annual Festival of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine on Sept. 14, 15 and 16 in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. In the 12th century, Minamoto-no-Yoritomo chose Kamakura as the seat of his shogunate. It was Japan's first military government. Kamakura remained the political center of Japan until the shogunate was destroyed in 1333. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine was built by Yoritomo. Now, Kamakura is a prosperous seaside city and a sightseeing place for its historical importance located not far from Tokyo. Highlights of the festival are a parade of shrine's three time-old mikoshis accompanied by processions of shinto priests and people in ancient costumes on the 15th and. best-known Yabusame (horseback archery) on the 16th both from 1 p.m. URL: http://www.tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp/ Address: 2-1-31 Yukinoshita, Kamakura City Access: Kamakura Station on JR Yokosuka Line and Enoshima Dentetetsu Railway Telephone: 0467-22-0315
		more photos

Menkake Gyoretsu (Mask Procession) at Goryo Shrine in Kamakura Sept. 18. A parade of men wearing grotesque and humorous ancient masks is followed by a time old mikoshi starting at 2 p.m. from the Goryo Shrine. A pregnant woman is called Okame and it is believed if an expecting mother touches her stomach, she will have a safe childbirth. A woman behind Okame is a midwife cooling Okame with a fan. Kagura is performed before the event in the precincts of the shrine from 11 a.m. Access: 5 minutes walk from Hase Stn. on Enoden Railways Telephone: 0467-22-3251 (Goryo Shrine)
		more photos

Kenchoji at Kamakura is the headquarter of the Kenchoji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen buddhism and Japan's oldest Zen monastery. The temple was founded in 1249 by the fifth Kamakura shogunal regent Hojo Tokiyori (1227-1263) father of of Hojo Tokimune, to serve as a major Zen center in Kamakura for Rankei Doryu, a distinguished Chinese Zen master who had arrived in Japan three years earlier. The layout of the temple shows a strong Chinese influence and boasts a superb collection of paintings, calligraphic scrolls, and images, many of which have been designated National Treasures. Zazen (sitting meditation) which is a crucial aspect of Zen Buddhist training, particularly with Rinzai, is open to public. Every Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. the zazen session is held in Japanese for free while the session in English are held four times a year. Next one will be on Sept. 15 (Tue) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Fee is 1,000 yen. URL: http://www.kenchoji.com/ Address: 8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City, Kangawa Prefecture Access: 15 minutes walk from Kita Kamakura Station on JR Yokosuka Line Telephone: 0467-22-0981 Admission: 300 yen
		more photos

Engakuji at Kamakura is the head temple of the Engakuji branch of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism. The temple was founded in 1282 by a Chinese Zen monk Mugaku Sogen at the request of Hojo Tokimune, the eighth regent of the Kamakura shogunate, to honor victims on both sides of the ultimately unsuccessful Mongolian invasions in 1274 and 1281. Sogen, who had studied under some of the leading Zen masters in his country, arrived in Japan in 1280 at the invitation of Tokimune. Engakuji was granted estates for its up keep and was designated a kiganjo, or temple at which prayers were to be offered regularly for the prosperity of the shogunate. The temple is the oldest representative example of the Chinese-style architecture seen in Zen temples in Japan. Zazen (sitting meditation) which is a crucial aspect of Zen Buddhist training, particularly with Rinzai, is open to public. Every day at 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. (April through October) and 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. (November through March). The zazen session is held in Japanese for free. URL: http://www.engakuji.or.jp/about.html Address: 409 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture Access: 1 minute from Kita Kamakura Station on JR Yokosuka Line Telephone: 0467-22-0478 Admission: 300 yen
		more photos

The Bronze Statue of Great Buddha (Daibutsu) in Kamakura was cast in 1252. However in 1498, a tidal wave swept away the great temple of the Buddha leaving only its foundation stones but did not injure the Buddha's body. The big earthquake (Great Kanto Earthquake in Sept. 1923) did not harm the body but destroyed its base and it was repaired in 1925. The latest repair was done in 1960-61. This repair (1) strengthened the Buddha's neck which supports the big head and (2) made it possible for the Buddha's body to move freely on the base avoiding a big shock of earthquake. Data: Weight 121 tons, Height 13.35meters, Face 21.35m, Eye 1m, Ear 1.9m, Mouth 0.82m, Knee to Knee 9.1m, circumference of thum 0.85m. (information from the memoir about the Great Buddha at the temple). URL: http://www.kotoku-in.jp/ Address: 4-2-28 Hase, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Access: Hase Station on Enoshima Dentetsu Railway Telephone: Kotoku-in Temple 0467-22-0703
		more photos