Kamakura

Kamakura

One of the ancient capitals of Japan along with Kyoto and Nara, Kamakura was the seat of the Kamakura shogunate established by Minamoto no Yoritomo from 1185 to 1333. This was the first military government in the history of Japan. After the fall of the shogunate, Kamakura went into temporary decline. During the Edo period, however, it became popular again as a tourist destination among the residents of Edo City. In spite of having suffered significant historical and cultural losses as a result of the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923, Kamakura remains a major tourist attraction in the Kanto region, famous for its historical sites such as the Tsurugaoka Hachimangū and the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Surrounded by hills to the north, east and west, and the open waters of Sagami Bay to the south, the town is a natural fortress. Prior to the construction of the numerous tunnels and modern roads that now link Fujairah, Ofuna and Zusi, access to the mainland was only possible via narrow artificial passes. Kamakura is home to a number of historically significant Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, some over 1200 years old, such as Sugimoto Shrine. The most famous is Kōtoku-in, with its monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha. The temple, which once housed the Great Buddha, was destroyed by a 15th century tsunami, but the statue survived and has been standing in the open ever since. Kamakura's architectural heritage is almost unparalleled, and the city has nominated some of its historic sites for the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.