Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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rule. Power then passed to the family of Yoritomo's widow, the Hojo family, who ruled
until 1333, when the emperor in Kyoto sent troops to crush the shogunate government.
Unable to stop the invaders, 800 soldiers retired to the Hojo family temple at Toshoji,
where they disemboweled themselves in ritualistic suicide known as
seppuku.
Today Kamakura is a thriving seaside resort (its pop. is 173,500), with old wooden
homes, temples, shrines, and wooded hills—a pleasant 1-day trip from Tokyo. (There's
also a beach in Kamakura called Yuigahama Beach, but I find it unappealing; it's often
strewn with litter and unbelievably crowded in summer. Skip it.)
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
Take the
JR Yokosuka Line
bound for Zushi, Kurihama, or Yoko-
suka; it departs every 10 to 15 minutes from the Yokohama, Shinagawa, Shimbashi, and
Tokyo JR stations. The trip takes almost 1 hour from Tokyo Station and costs ¥890 one-
way to Kamakura Station. From Shinjuku, take the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line 1 hour to
Kamakura for the same price.
VISITOR INFORMATION
In Kamakura, there's a
tourist information window
(
&
0467/22-3350;
www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp) inside Kamakura Station near the
east exit. You can pick up a map here and get directions to the village's most important
sights and restaurants. It's open daily 9am to 5:30pm April to September, 9am to 5pm
October to March.
ORIENTATION & GETTING AROUND
Kamakura's major sights are clustered in two
areas:
Kamakura Station,
the town's downtown with the tourist office, souvenir shops
spread along Komachi Dori and Wakamiya Oji, restaurants, and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
Shrine; and
Hase,
with the Great Buddha and Hase Kannon Temple. You can travel
between Kamakura Station and Hase Station via the
Enoden Line,
a wonderful small
train, or you can walk the distance in about 20 minutes. Destinations are also easily
reached by buses departing from Kamakura Station.
SEEING THE SIGHTS
Keep in mind that most temples and shrines open at about 8 or 9am and close between
4 and 5pm.
AROUND KAMAKURA STATION
11
About a 12-minute walk from Kamakura Station,
(
&
0467/22-0315
) is the spiritual heart of
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Free Sightseeing Guides
University students of Kanagawa Prefecture volunteer their time to guide foreign
visitors in Kamakura as a way to practice their English. You'll find them most
weekends outside the east exit of Kamakura Station from about 10am to noon,
available for tours on a first-come, first-served basis. To make sure you have a
guide, or to reserve for another day of the week, contact Nishimoto Hiroaki at
&
080/1526-1000,
or send an e-mail to hiroakiarea7177@yahoo.co.jp at least 2
weeks in advance, stating your name, country, number of people in your group,
time and date of your request, and phone number of your hotel in Japan.
Although the service is free, you should pay for the student's transportation and
meal, if applicable.
