Welcome to Japan Heritage Sites in Kamakura

Kamakura - A Historical and Cultural Mosaic​

Kamakura underwent rapid development after Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199) founded the Kamakura shogunate (1185–1333). Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine was constructed in the city center, passes were carved out through hills, and large temples, including Zen Buddhist temples, were built at the foot of the mountains.

In the ancient city of Kamakura, the history and pathos of the samurai who once lived here are still palpable. It became a popular destination for faith and leisure in the early modern period and the site of many villas in the modern period. Even with such development, the city has been preserved with its historical heritage in harmony with its natural surroundings.

Steeped in rich history, Kamakura is a special city where various pieces fit together like a mosaic—from the atmosphere created by medieval temples and shrines that blend into the natural environment, to architectural and civil engineering relics from different periods, artistic and cultural legacies left by Kamakura writers and others, and a range of occupations and rituals.

Following the shogunate’s establishment, this once ordinary village quickly evolved into a major city as the center of Japan. After the shogunate moved to Kyoto, Kamakura transformed into a farming and fishing village, a sightseeing destination, and a place of culture.

Kamakura is a rare city where buildings, culture, art, relics, and rituals from various backgrounds, shaped by such history, exist in harmony.

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