Combine three trails into an epic day-long hike around the city
Epic Kamakura Day Hike
A Guide to Kamakura’s Hydrangeas
This is an unofficial history, recounted to my husband by his kobudo teacher, who assures us that his memory is correct: ***** Once upon a time, some 40 or 50 years ago, the city of Kamakura had a problem: June — the rainy season in the area — saw tourist numbers plummet, and the much-needed … Continue reading A Guide to Kamakura’s Hydrangeas
Kannon-sama Pilgrimage: Jochi-ji and Tokei-ji
At the end of the Daibutsu-Kuzuharaoka hiking trail, in Kita-Kamakura, sits Jochi-ji, temple number 31 of the Kamakura Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage. Not far down the road is Tokei-ji, temple number 32. In Japan, Thirty-Three Kannon pilgrimages are fairly common. According to Kamakura City's webpage on its Kannon-sama pilgrimage, the first Thirty-Three Kannon pilgrimage — the … Continue reading Kannon-sama Pilgrimage: Jochi-ji and Tokei-ji
Firefly Festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
The best part about June? Fireflies.
Kamakura Bungakukan Rose Festival
Roses are red... and pink, yellow, orange and white at the Kamakura Bungakukan's Rose Festival
Hydrangea Train, Kamakura
In Kamakura, June means hydrangeas. Thousands of them. And the tourists just eat it up. One of the most popular spots to take photos is Goryo Jinja, because the always-photogenic Enoden Line train rattles by as it exits the tunnel between Gokuraku-ji and Saka-no-shita.
か is for Kamakura 33 Kannon Pilgrimage
A great way to get to know Kamakura is to undertake the Kamakura 33 Kannon pilgrimage.
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
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
Kids’ Play Between Kamakura and Hakone: Odawara Wanpaku Land
The oft-visited Kamakura-Hakone stretch isn't terribly child-friendly outside of the summer beach season. Kids get bored with temples and shrines, and wandering the omiyage streets of hot-spring towns gets pretty old, pretty fast. Luckily, there are a few spots that provide ample opportunity to play, and that will, with any luck, fill kids' "play tanks" … Continue reading Kids’ Play Between Kamakura and Hakone: Odawara Wanpaku Land
鎌倉ペンション・Inn By The Sea Kamakura 