Kamakura and Eastern Kyoto with Lots of Temples and Shrines

Kamakura and Eastern Kyoto with Lots of Temples and Shrines

Kamakura is such a compact city that you can see the whole area within a day. One of the representative sight-seeing spots is Big Image of Buddha in Kotokuin temple. From there, you can travel almost all the famous temples for six hours.

Many historical sites are covered in public transportation services. On the way to Hachimangu, we can enjoy shopping on KOMACHI street. While walking through the street, we can feel something different from the western culture. In this area, there are many valuable temples and shrines within a walk. So, we can visit many historical temples and shrines such as so-called hydrangea temple and bamboo grove temple. All these temples are located in calm environment, so you will feel like being in KAMAKURA ZEN Buddhism style.

About 1 hour from JR Kita Kamakura station, we will visit the 2nd largest city YOKOHAMA. This time, we will stop over at China town in ISHIKAWA cho in Yokohama. We can enjoy a variety of Chinese cuisines for reasonable prices.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Engaku-ji Temple, 409 Yamanochi, Kamakura 247-0062 Kanagawa Prefecture

Engakuji Temple played an important role in KAMAKURA period ( 1192 - mid 15th century ) when Kamakura was a capital of Japan. The temple is ranked the highest of RINZAI clan of Kamakura Buddhism. The style is featered in realization of everything of the universe all through sitting silently (ZAZEN). There are several historically important assets, such as national treature Ogane (large bell) in the precincts of the temple. Zen class or buddhism seminars are held all the year round there.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Meigetsuin (Hydrangea Temple), 189 Yamanochi, Kamakura 247-0062 Kanagawa Prefecture

The temple is well known as hydrangea temple not only in Japan but in foreign countries. The season is June, when hydrangea is full bloom. In the temple precincts, almost all the places are filled with hydrangea. Its beauty facsinates every visitor whoever comes from overseas. But it is not known well that the huge precincts welcome us whenever we come back, which means there are a variety of flowers are planted here and there. So, visitors can enjoy viewing seasonal flowers of the day.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura), 4 Chome-2-28 Hase, Kamakura 248-0016 Kanagawa Prefecture

Big Statue of Kamakura sits in the center of the temple yard. It is said that the buddist sactrum was blown away by two typhoons in 1334 and 1369. The Image is loved by thousands of visitors all over the world.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, 2-1-31 Yukinoshita, Kamakura 248-0005 Kanagawa Prefecture

The shrine is known to be assoiated with MINAMOTO family from the ancient time. When the first governor of KAMAKURA feudal government (in 1192), YORITOMO MINAMOTO, declared the shrine to be the spiritual center of the government. Since then, the shrine was long been worshipped by SAMURAI worriors class.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Yokohama Chinatown, 118-2 Yamashitacho, Naka, Yokohama 231-0023 Kanagawa Prefecture

Within 45 minutes from Kamakura district, you can experience another exotic town with Asian tastes. In Chinatown in Yokohama (Ishikawa-cho JR station), there are thousands of Chinese restaurants and cafes where you can appreciate true Chinese cuisines with reasonable prices. Almost all the restaurants serve you reasonable all-you-can-eat lunch or small amount of dishes (each one served in a small plate ) within \2,000 menu. We visit here on our way back to hotel. ( for afternoon tea )

Duration: 1 hour