A great way to get to know Kamakura is to undertake the Kamakura 33 Kannon pilgrimage.
か is for Kamakura 33 Kannon Pilgrimage
す is for Sugimoto Dera
Dating to 734 CE, Sugimoto Dera is considered Kamakura's oldest temple — and it looks the part. The stairway going from the niomon to the hondo is uneven and moss-covered, and the grounds have an earthy, ancient feel to them. The primary object of worship at Sugimoto Dera is Kannon-sama. The temple is home to … Continue reading す is for Sugimoto Dera
くis for Kuzuharaoka Jinja
Kuzuharaoka Jinja (sometimes referred to as Kuzuharagaoka Shrine) owes its existence to the execution of Hino Toshimoto, a scholar famed for his poetry. Hino, a court official loyal to Emperor Go-Daigo, was twice caught plotting to overthrow the Kamakura Shogunate. Though released the first time, he was found guilty and sentenced to death the second … Continue reading くis for Kuzuharaoka Jinja
け is for Kencho-ji
The biggest temple in Kamakura
か is for Kaizo-ji
Just six hundred metres from Eisho-ji is a temple that blooms year round. Kaizo-ji, founded in 1394, is most famous for its bush clover, which blooms in September. The temple, of the Kenchoji school of Rinzai Zen Buddhism, is also a great spot for plum-blossom viewing and koyo (fall foliage). Behind the main temple building is a … Continue reading か is for Kaizo-ji
か is for Kakuon-ji
In her book, Kamakura: Fact and Legend, Iso Mutsu calls Kakuon-ji a "venerable temple of unimposing exterior." It is indeed quite simple on the outside (though wonderfully peaceful), but inside it houses a number of statues and other items, including two national treasures (the Yakushi Sanzon and the Black Jizo). While the outer grounds are … Continue reading か is for Kakuon-ji
か is for Kamakura-gu
Kamakura-gu is one of Kamakura's newer shrines, having been founded in 1869 by Emperor Meiji. The spirit of the shrine goes back much further, however, as it was established in memory of Prince Morinaga, who was imprisoned in a cave on the property for seven or eight months before being beheaded in 1335. While the … Continue reading か is for Kamakura-gu
お is for Onari Shotengai
Onari Shotengai, out the west side of Kamakura Station, doesn't get much press, being overshadowed by Komachi Dori, the shopping street out the east side. But it has a lot going for it. The past year or so has seen quite a few new shops open along the shopping street, including cafes, jewellery shops … Continue reading お is for Onari Shotengai
お is for Ofuna Kannon
We're finally leaving え, though I'm guessing we'll be back again eventually. So many え... But onto お we go. Ofuna is a funny city, half of it being in Yokohama-shi and half being in Kamakura-shi. Luckily for us and our kana series, the Ofuna Kannon is on the Kamakura side. Kannon-sama is the goddess … Continue reading お is for Ofuna Kannon
え is for Enoden
Or, to use its full name, Enoshima Dentetsu. Green, purple, blue — both sky and dark, occasionally hawking Coca Cola, with wooden floors if you're lucky, the Enoden line is Kamakura's cute little engine that can, ever so slowly, take you from Kamakura to Fujisawa. Slow, yes — the trip from start to finish … Continue reading え is for Enoden
鎌倉ペンション・Inn By The Sea Kamakura 