Kamakura Highlights

Visit the most significant temples in Kamakura, an ancient city that was once the political center of eastern Japan. At the Jodo sect temple Hasedera, you will behold an eleven-headed wooden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Each face has a different expression and taken together they symbolize that Kannon hears all prayers. Similarly, Kotokuin temple is renowned for its bronze statue of Buddha. Cast in 1252, the 93-ton statue was housed inside another temple until the 15th century, when a tsunami destroyed the building. The Great Buddha is seated outdoors in the lotus position, his hands positioned in a meditative gesture. You will also explore the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, which was founded in the 11th century and dedicated to the Shinto god of war. To enter, you will pass through enormous red torii gates that are said to separate the sacred from the profane. The shrine’s lotus ponds and tree-lined lanes couldn’t be more peaceful.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit the ancient feudal capital of Kamakura, which first flourished in the 12th century.
• See the eleven-headed statue of Kannon at the Hasedera temple.
• Admire the massive 13th-century statue of Buddha at Kotokuin temple.
• Explore an early Shinto shrine surrounded by serene grounds and lotus ponds.