El santuario Tsurugaoka Hachimangu es el santuario sintoísta más importante de la ciudad de Kamakura, prefectura de Kanagawa. El santuario está ubicado en el centro geográfico y cultural de la ciudad, que se construyó en gran parte a su alrededor. Tiene más de 800 años y está dedicado a Hachiman, Dios patrono de los samuráis.
El santuario fue fundado por Minamoto Yoriyoshi en 1063 y ampliado y trasladado a su ubicación actual en 1180 por Minamoto Yoritomo, el fundador y primer shogun del gobierno de Kamakura. En la sala principal hay un pequeño museo santuario, en el que se exhiben diversos tesoros como; espadas, máscaras y documentos importantes.
Varios eventos tienen lugar a lo largo del año. Más de dos millones de visitantes llegan durante las vacaciones de Año Nuevo y a mediados de Abril y mediados de Septiembre se muestra el tradicional tiro con arco a caballo (yabusame).
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Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is 10-15 minutes walk from JR Kamakura station (take the east exit).
At the creative French restaurant, Nature et Sens, diners are treated to an experience for the senses. Seasonal ingredients and Kamakura produce take centerstage in these fantastically beautiful dishes. Enjoy a glass of wine with your meal from their wide selection for the ultimate experience.
Taste Aratama's famous fried pork cutlet and fall in love with the fresh flavors. Tonkatsu isn't all that's on the menu. Be sure to try Aratama's other dishes like mozzarella menchi katsu and cream croquette.
Discover the taste that Kamakura locals are in love with. New German's fluffy custard-filled sponge cakes are a dessert that is sure to impress. The caramel custard flavor is especially popular with visitors.
Kenchoji is Kamakura’s oldest Zen temple and is recognized as the top temple of the city’s Five Great Zen Temples. It was originally founded by regent Hojo Tokiyori in 1253 as a Zen training temple, and its first head priest was a Chinese Zen priest named Rankei Doryu. One of Kenchoji’s defining characteristics is its expansive temple grounds. After the gates and main area, the complex extends deep into the wooded hills. The temple’s main buildings feature traditional Chinese architecture and are arranged in a line, which is characteristic of Chinese Zen Buddhist temples. Kenchoji’s entrance is marked by Somon, a relatively small, yet beautiful, wooden gate that leads to the main gate, Sanmon. This massive wooden structure is meant to relieve you of all your attachments. Just past Sanmon and to the right is the temple’s bell tower, and to the left is a revered juniper tree. This 13-meter-tall tree is estimated to be about 760 years old and allegedly sprouted from seeds brought from China during the temple’s construction. After the gates, the temple buildings stand in a line down the complex. First is Butsuden (Buddha Hall), which enshrines the principal statue of the temple, Jizo Bodhisattva. Directly behind Butsuden is Hatto, the largest wooden temple building in Eastern Japan. When Kenchoji was strictly a training temple, monks would gather in Hatto to listen to priests’ lectures. Inside Hatto is a statue of Senju Kannon and a stunning ceiling painting of a dragon among the clouds. Past Hatto is Hojo; this building was initially the head priest’s residence, but today is popular for its picturesque Zen garden. Sanmon, the bell tower, Butsuden, and Hatto are all designated as National Important Cultural Properties. After the main temple grounds, a path goes further into the forested hillside to Hansobo. This small shrine is dedicated to Hansobo Daigongen, the guardian deity of the temple, and has a small observation deck. A little further past the shrine is a second observation deck where you can observe Mount Fuji on clear days. From this point, there is a one-hour hiking trail that leads to Zuisenji Temple.
Myohonji, located in the heart of Kamakura, is one of the oldest Nichiren-sect temples of Japanese Buddhism. Despite its city location, the temple is renowned for its tranquil atmosphere and lush encircling nature. It also tends to be less touristy than other temples in the area. Myohonji was founded in 1260 by Hiki Yoshimoto after he encountered the Buddhist priest and philosopher Nichiren Shonin in Kamakura. The site of the temple was previously home to the Hiki clan, before they were defeated by the Hojo clan in the early 1200s. Hiki Yoshikazu donated his home to Nichiren Shonin for the souls of his fallen clan, which later grew to be Myohonji. Some notable structures include Soshido, Myohonji’s largest temple building, Nitenmon gate, a beautiful inner gate, and a bronze statue of Nichiren. Enjoy the temple grounds in all seasons with spring cherry blossoms, verdant summer foliage, fiery autumn maple and ginkgo leaves, and winter plum blossoms.
Hongakuji Temple (本覚寺) is dedicated to Ebisu, part of the Kamakura seven deities of good luck. The temple was founded by Ashikaga Mochiuji in 1436.