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  | Kamakura (Japon)
| | | Kamakura | | | Visite virtuelle |  | 6 sections et 71 éléments |
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Guide (1)
|  | Guide, map and view by satellite of Kamakura
Kamakura's sights are scattered around the city. Most visitors make a beeline for the Great Buddha and stop off at Hase Kannon on the way; these sights can be very crowded on weekends and holidays.
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|  | Kenchô-ji (22)
建長寺
Kofukuzan Kencho Kokoku Zenji
entre 1249 et 1253
Kenchoji is the first Zen temple erected in Kamakura and the pioneer of Zen Buddhism in Japan. It commands the first position in the Five Great Zen-Temples in Kamakura, and is the head of the 500-odd branch temples belonging to the Kenchoji school of the Rinzai Zen sect.
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|  | Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū (9)
鶴岡八幡宮
1191
Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū (鶴岡八幡宮) is the most important shrine in the city of Kamakura This shrine, which used to be also a Buddhist temple and far bigger than today.
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| Meigetsu-in (3)
福源山明月院
Fugenzan Meigetsu-in (福源山明月院) is a Rinzai Zen temple of the Kenchō-ji school in Kita-Kamakura. Famous for its hydrangeas, it's also known as The Temple of Hydrangeas (ajisai-dera). The main object of worship is goddess Shō Kannon (聖観音).
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Get in
By train
The fastest way in is by JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station (one hour - ¥890) and Yokohama (25 minutes -¥330). The JR Kamakura-Enoshima Free Kippu (¥1,110 from Yokohama, ¥1,970 from Tokyo) gets you a round trip from Tokyo to Kamakura (local trains only) plus unlimited use of Enoden and Shonan Monorail lines.
A cheaper alternative is to take the private Odakyu line from Shinjuku to Fujisawa, then change onto the rattling old Enoden (江ノ電) half-train/half-streetcar line that terminates in Kamakura. The longer (about 90-minute) travel time is compensated for by views of Enoshima island and the Shonan coast. The Enoshima-Kamakura Free Pass (¥1,430) will get you a roundtrip from Shinjuku and unlimited use of the Enoden line for one day.
Get around
Kamakura is just a little too big to cover on foot, but a network of buses radiates out from the train station. Kotokuin and Hasedera can also be reached by taking the Enoden line three stops out to Hase station.
Nevertheless, for the energetic ones, there is a nice hike starting from the Tōkeiji and ending near the Kōtokuin. You will walk, with some climbing, through forest. The hike also passes through Zeniarai Benten Shrine, if you are curious about the money washing ceremony. The hike takes about 3 hours, if you also stop and visit the temples along the way. Even in Summer, the shade on the path manages to keep the temperature bearable. If you are on a day-trip, doing the hike of course limits a bit the chances of visiting some of the less reachable temples.
See
Central Kamakura
- Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine (鶴岡八幡宮). The largest Shinto shrine in otherwise almost solidly Buddhist Kamakura, built by Yoritomo Minamoto (1147/1199) founder of the Kamakura Shogunate and the first Shogun in the Kamakura Period (1185/1333). Just a bit north of the station, this shrine attracts a million visitors on New Year's Day to see the first sunrise of the year (Japan Rail runs trains all night long). If you're lucky, you may see a traditional wedding going on in the plaza in front of the main shrine. The Ritual Dance Stage (舞殿) is the spot where Yoritomo forced the hunted Yoshitsune's Lady Shizuka to perform a dance for him. Rather than celebrating Yoritomo, Lady Shizuka's dance expressed her love for Yoshitsune and her sorrow at his plight. This event is commemorated during the Kamakura Festival in April. Twice each year, in the spring and fall, you can watch demonstrations of Yabusame (archery from galloping horseback, in full samurai regalia) at Hachiman-gu.
- Myohonji Temple (妙本寺). The cemetery contains the grave of the creator of Ultraman, a popular 1960s tv show. Fans who visit the grave place toy Ultraman action figures on his grave.
Western Kamakura (Hase)
The following sights are in western Kamakura, mostly near the Enoden Hase station.
- Kōtokuin (高徳院). Home of the famous Great Buddha (大仏 Daibutsu), a bronze statue of Amida that at 13.35 meters is the second largest in Japan (second only to that in Nara's Todaiji). Thought to be cast in 1252, the statue was originally housed in a giant temple hall, but the building was washed away in a tidal wave. Entry to temple grounds is ¥200, while an additional ¥20 will allow you inside the statue itself where you can take in the view from the statue's back, open 7:00/17:30 daily.
- Hasedera (長谷寺), also Hase Kannon. Home to the largest wooden statue in Japan, representing Buddhist deity Kannon. An interesting if somewhat claustrophobic grotto on the grounds is filled with statues of Benzaiten. Entry ¥300.
- Zeniarai Benten Shrine (銭洗い弁天). An atmospheric shrine in the hills dedicated to the deity Benzaiten, but popularly named after the most common activity: according to legend, any money (zeni) washed (arai) in the cave here will be doubled. You can also purchase o-mamori (protective charm) and have a kannushi (shinto priest) strike sparks from a flint over it to increase its power. It is about a kilometer away from Kamakura station. As there is no direct bus service, those in a hurry should take a taxi. Otherwise, the undemanding 20-minute stroll gives pleasant views of residential areas with quiet gardens. The shrine itself is reached via a long, but well-illuminated tunnel bored right through the rock. The hill above, Genjiyama, has a park with excellent views over the city. It is also a popular place for viewing the cherry blossoms in early spring. From here you can reach the hiking trail running from Tokeiji to the Kōtokuin.
North Kamakura
The following temples are near JR Kitakamakura station.
- Engakuji (円覚寺). Number two of Kamakura's Five Zen Temples, founded in 1282 to commemorate soldiers who fell fighting off the Mongol invasion the previous year. The Shariden building on the grounds is reputed to contain one of the teeth of the Buddha. Atop a hill near the temple is the temple's large bell and next to it a teahouse famous for its tokoroten (sweet cold noodles) - although foreigners tasting this peculiarly salty and slimy concoction may wonder why.
- Kenchōji (建長寺). Number one of Kamakura's Five Zen Temples, the oldest in Kamakura (built 1253) and one of the oldest in all Japan. The temple bell here too has been designated a National Treasure, and there's a nice Zen garden as well.
- Tōkeiji (東慶寺). A nunnery famous in the feudal days for sheltering abused women, who could obtain a divorce by staying here for three years. Has a large and atmospheric graveyard. Also called "Kakekomidera" (the fugitive temple), and famous for its hydrangeas.
- The artist Isamu Noguchi lived and created ceramics in Kita (North) Kamakura in 1952.
East Kamakura
The temples of eastern Kamakura lie off the beaten tourist track and are for that very reason worth a visit. While you can reach these on foot, it's probably wiser to take a bus as there's still a fair bit of climbing to do just to get around the temples.
- Jōmyōji (浄妙寺). Sample tea ceremony on the cheap here with a ¥500 cup of matcha tea in the gardens.
- Sugimotodera (杉本寺). Tranquil hillside temple with a newer stone stairway to the left of the even steeper, worn-out original one, and views over the town. The oldest temple in Kamakura, founded 734. Eleven-faced statue of Kannon.
- Shakado Kiritoshi (釈迦堂切り通し). Fifteen min walk from Sugimoto Kannon. Kamakura is surrounded by mountains on three sides and the ocean on the fourth. Very narrow roads were cut through the mountains, to make for easy defense. The Shakado Kiritoshi (pass) is cut through solid rock, and very impressive even today.
- Hōkokuji (報国寺). Notable for its lovely bamboo grove. You can get matcha here too.
Nearby
- Taya Cavern (Taya no Dookutsu) is actually in Yokohama, but is closer to Kamakura both geographically and historically. It is well worth a half-day excursion. The cavern is in the precinct of Josenji Temple, Sakae-ku, Taya-machi 1501 (take the JR Yokosuka Line two stops north of Kamakura to Ofuna Station; take a bus bound for Totsuka Bus Center; after about 8 minutes, get off at Dookutsu-mae bus stop; the temple is just to the right of the large radon spa building), +81 45 851-2392. Every day, 9:00/16:30. From about the year 1200 to 1700, Shingon Buddhist monks gradually excavated this underground maze of tunnels as a site for spiritual training. You will be given a candle which you slip onto a wooden holder outside the entrance, and light at the candle inside the doorway. Damp, silent corridors lead to small, domed mation chambers with walls and ceilings carved with fantastic creatures and Buddhist images, and on down to the spring room with a great turtle and birds carved on the walls. A small flashlight would be useful to see the images that candlelight doesn't reach. ¥400 (¥200 high school and junior high school students; ¥100 elementary school students).
And if you visit this cavern, there are two other attractions close by: A short walk up the hill to the left of the radon spa building is Suenosato, (Taya-machi 1483 851 88 55), a studio displaying beautiful and expensive handcrafted pottery and glassware that range from whimsical to Wabi-sabi. And if you come out of the cavern temple and turn left along the road, it is a short walk to the spa Yukai Sokai Taya (Taya-machi 1463 854 26 41 - Every day 10:00/15:00 : ¥600 - Monday/Friday : ¥700 Saturday/Sunday), housed in a building with the large neon character for bath on the roof.
Hiking
Kamakura has several hiking trails that can provide relief from the crowds at the more popular shrines and temples. The Daibutsu hiking course starts a few hundred meters down the road from Kōtokuin. The trail has several offshoots that lead to various small shrines and temples. If it has rained recently, the trail could be muddy and there are several steep sections.
Beaches
Kamakura is not just a historical city which has a lot of temples, shrines, and other historical buildings - - there are also some popular beaches in Kamakura. You can feel the atmosphere of the Shonan Coast in the bright sunshine and have a good time there, especially in summer.
- Yuigahama (由比ヶ浜) is a representative beach in Kamakura. So many people visit here in summer. You can enjoy the sea-bathing here too. This is also a good spot to have a good sight of Kamakura firework display held in summer. (Just remember when you walk along this beach that it was not so long ago that they found a lot of dismembered heads buried in/near the sand. The heads were very old, a throwback to a different era when Japan was not such a friendly place).
You can see fireworks in summer. Kamakura is famous for aquatic fireworks.
- Inamuragasaki（稲村ヶ崎) is also a famous beach. The Inamuragasaki Park (稲村ガ崎公園 Inamuragasaki Kōen) is located here and is well known for its sunsets. The film "Inamura Jane" (稲村ジェーン), directed by Keisuke Kuwata, was set here. The remains of the Hojo, Kamakura's government, was destroyed here in 1333. It follows along national road 134.
- Shichirigahama (七里ヶ浜) is also a famous beach in Kamakura. Sad to say, you can not swim here. But it's still a good beach to relax and have a good time. Many surfers enjoy surfing here.
Buy
Kamakura is famous for a biscuit called Hatosabure (鳩サブレー), a biscuit shaped like a pigeon. Sold next to Kamakura station and a very popular omiyage (souvenir) among the Japanese.
Alternatively, combine good taste with bad taste by purchasing a pack of Giant Buddha shaped pastries stuffed with red bean paste, sold at the souvenir stands in and near Kotokuin.
Eat
There are a large number of places to eat in the vicinity of the train station. For a snack, try the local specialty, purple potato soft ice cream (murasaki-imo sofuto), which tastes much better than it sounds.
In Komachi street, there is a rice cracker (o-senbei) shop where you can toast your own o-senbei. One cracker costs about ¥200 .
- Saryo Inoue (茶寮いの上), 1-4-4 Komachi, ☎ 0467 23 31 12. Open 10:00/18:00 - closed non-holiday Mondays. The set lunches of traditional Japanese food served here complement the historic atmosphere in Kamakura. Second-floor restaurant has a decent view and is in the plaza on the east side of the Kamakura station. English menus. ¥800/¥1,200.
Drink
During the summer months, many temporary bars are set up on the beach due south from the train station, some of them feature live bands and DJ's and it's generally a very good atmosphere. And don't miss the last train home if you are staying in Tokyo, last minute accommodation late in the evening is simply not an option during the busy summer months.
Sleep
Most visitors daytrip from Tokyo, but there is a pretty good selection of accommodation if you want to spend the night.
- Kamakura-Hase Youth Hostel, (3 min from Enoden Hase station). As a word of warning, the owners of the guest house are very strict towards upholding their rules. ¥3200/4000 member/non-member.
Contact
Pick up a useful map of the temples and suggested walking routes from Kamakura station's tourist information office before you head out.
Get out
- Enoshima, just 10 kilometers away at the other end of the Enoden line, is the closest Japan gets to a California surfer scene and a complete change of pace and lifestyle.
From Wikipedia
http://wikitravel.org/en/Kamakura
Text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation
http://en.wikitravel.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_GNU_Free_Documentation_License
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| | Description | |
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Surrounded by mountains on three sides and the open water of Sagami Bay on the fourth, Kamakura is a natural fortress. During the Heian period it was the chief city of the Kanto region, and from the 12th through 14th centuries the Minamoto shoguns ruled Japan from here under what is known as the Kamakura Shogunate.
Sometimes called the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, Kamakura is now mainly known for its temples and shrines. Kotokuin, with the monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha, is the most famous of these. A 15th Century tsunami destroyed the temple in which the Great Buddha was once housed, but the statue survived and has remained outdoors ever since. Magnificent Zen temples like Kenchoji and Enkakuji, the Tokeiji (a nunnery that was a refuge for women who wanted to divorce their husbands), the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine and the Hase Kannon Temple complete the list of Kamakura's most famous historical and religious sites.
Kamakura has a popular beach which, in combination with the temples and the proximity to Tokyo, makes it a popular tourist destination. The city is well-provided with restaurants and other tourist-oriented amenities. | | Histoire | |
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In 1185, the Minamoto family took over the control over Japan after defeating the Taira clan in the Gempei war. Minamoto Yoritomo was appointed shogun in the year 1192 and established a new government, the Kamakura Bakufu. The new feudal government was organized in a simpler way than the one in Kyoto and worked much more efficient under Japanese conditions.
After Yoritomo's death in 1199, quarrels for supremacy started between the Bakufu of Kamakura and the Imperial court in Kyoto. Those quarrels for supremacy found an end in the Jokyu disturbance in 1221 when Kamakura defeated the Imperial army in Kyoto, and the Hojo regents in Kamakura achieved complete control over Japan. By redistributing the land gained during the Jokyu disturbance, they were able to achieve loyalty among all the powerful people throughout the country. The emperor and the remaining governmental offices in Kyoto lost practically all effective power.
Chinese influence continued to be relatively strong during the Kamakura period. New Buddhist sects were introduced: the Zen sect (introduced 1191) found large numbers of followers among the samurai, which were now the leading social class. Another new Buddhist sect, the radical and intolerant Lotus Sutra sect was founded in 1253 by Nichiren.
In 1232 a legal code, the Joei Shikimoku was promulgated. It stressed Confucian values such as the importance of loyalty to the master, and generally attempted to suppress a decline of morals and discipline. Tight control was maintained by the Hojo clan, and any signs of rebellions were destroyed immediately.
The shogun stayed in Kamakura without much power while deputies of him were located in Kyoto and Western Japan. Stewards and constables controlled the provinces tightly and loyally. Indeed, the Hojo regents were able to bring several decades of peace and economic expansion to the country until an external power began to threaten Japan.
By 1259, the Mongols had conquered China and became also interested in Japan. Several threatening messages of the powerful Mongols were ignored by Kamakura. This resulted in the first Mongol invasion attempt in 1274 on the island of Kyushu. After only a few hours of fighting, however, the large naval invasion fleet, was forced to pull back because of bad weather conditions. This was very fortunate for the Japanese since their odds against the large and modern Mongol force were not favourable at all.
Due to good preparations, the Japanese were able to maintain a strong defence for several weeks during a second invasion attempt which occurred in 1281. But again, the Mongols were finally forced to withdraw mainly because of bad weather. Kyushu remained in alert for a possible third invasion attempt, but the Mongols soon had too many problems on the mainland in order to care about Japan.
The consequences of the many years of war preparations against the Mongols were fatal to the Kamakura government since they resulted only in expenditures and no profits. Many of the loyal men who were fighting for Kamakura, were now waiting for rewards that the government could not pay. Hence, financial problems and decreasing loyalty among the powerful lords were some of the reasons for the fall of the Kamakura government.
By 1333 the power of the Hojo regents had declined to such a degree that the emperor Go-Daigo was able to restore imperial power and overthrow the Kamakura Bakufu. | | | |
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