Kamakura, the true face of the city of samurai | Kamakura travel and tours | Tourist attractions

Click here for tourist information on Kamakura! We introduce the true face of Kamakura, the capital of samurai. You can easily search for and book tours on Club Tourism website.

At the end of the 12th century, Kamakura, the capital of the warrior government (shogunate) established by Minamoto no Yoritomo, was a cutting-edge town that quickly adopted the culture of China, which had once led Asia. Later, during the Edo period, Kamakura became known as a tourist destination, and after the Meiji era, as a resort area. However, the foundation of Kamakura's culture has always been rooted in warrior traditions, such as those represented by Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Mr. Osawa says, "Kamakura, which is formed by the layering of various historical cultures, is also called a town of mosaics. Knowing the characteristics of each era makes strolling through Kamakura even more enjoyable," and he first talked about the surprising aspects of the Kamakura warriors who supported the Kamakura shogunate.

During Kamakura period, Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine was established in Kamakura as the guardian deity of the samurai government. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, which has long been loved by warriors and intellectuals, Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine remains one of the symbols of Kamakura and is still bustling with many worshippers.

Kamakura was a city of warriors where the military government, known as the Shogunate, was established by Yoritomo. In the latter half of the 12th century, Kamakura engaged in trade with the Song Dynasty in China, which was a leading world power at the time. The Chinese culture introduced from the Song period was appreciated by people of all social statuses.

It is said that Wakamiya Oji-oji, which runs from the sea to Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine, was once lined with the estates of powerful samurai. The samurai not only used celadon and white porcelain from China as everyday tableware but also admired celadon vases and ornaments as treasured items. They embraced the latest trends in Chinese culture by practicing the tea ceremony, which was introduced from the Song Dynasty. Observing the intricately crafted celadon ware allows you to imagine a different side of the samurai, one that contrasts with their battle-ready image.

In Kamakura, many pieces of celadon and white porcelain from mainland China have been excavated. The excavations have been conducted at various locations, and while these items were highly valued as treasures by Samurai, they were also loved by common people as tableware for everyday use.

After the fall of the Shogunate, in the Muromachi era, the entire town of Kamakura ran out of funds as it lost its political centripetal force. Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine was protected as the symbol of the town, but other shrines and temples must have been in a very difficult situation. As the entire town fell into disrepair, Kamakura the capital of the samurai class, Mito Mitsukuni, the "Yellow Gate of Mito", turned his attention back to the town. Mitsukuni compiled a geographical journal called "Shinpen Kamakura shi" which included Jisha of Kamakura, treasures, and a discussion of Azuma mirrors. The "Shinpen Kamakura Zhi" was widely disseminated, especially among the samurai and intellectuals of the Edo period, which has its roots in Kamakura Bushi, and Kamakura became widely known to the public as basic information for sightseeing. And Kamakura was transformed from a political center to a tourist destination where former samurai Bunka families still remain.

Kamakura was often used as the setting for plays at that time, and it is believed that ordinary people visited the city as if they were touring filming locations. The appearance of tourists may not be much different from today, visiting location of stories with friends and buying popular souvenirs.

In an era when swimming in the sea was believed to cure various ailments, Kamakura 's Shichirigahama came into the spotlight as a place to recover. Kaihin-in, a facility originally built for the purpose of recuperation, was transformed into a seaside hotel and soon became a sort of guesthouse bustling with Overseas Travel. Overseas Travel were drawn to the atmosphere of the ancient capital that remained in Kamakura, and one of the most popular attractions was the Great Buddha of Takatoku. Like Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine, the Great Buddha of Kotoku-in was also built in Kamakura at the behest of Takatoku no Yoritomo. Samurai culture has changed form with the times and continues to be loved to this day.

The exotic charm of the 11-meter-high Great Buddha is truly exotic culture itself to Westerners. The Kaihin Hotel had foreign-language guidebooks available, making the town easy to visit for foreigners, which is another reason Kamakura why it became so popular as a resort destination.

Kamakura has been visited by writers such as Masaoka and Natsume Soseki since the Meiji period. Attracted by the ancient capital atmosphere that remains in the town, many literary figures, including Kume Masao, made Kamakura their base during the Taisho period. Writers living in Kamakura were called "Kamakura writers," and gradually a community of literary figures was formed. Writers who loved Kamakura also worked hard to revitalize the town with events such as Kamakura Carnival, and in times of disaster, they worked with zaibatsu to invest in Culture to protect them, and campaigned with citizens against housing Kaihotsu, creating an environment in which the power of the citizens could protect and promote Kamakura as a city of Culture.

Literary figures who loved culture had a deep attachment to the ancient capital of Kamakura, and worked with the citizens to protect Kamakura. Examples of Kamakura culture that were preserved through human power include Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine, which continued to be protected by those in power even after the collapse of Kamakura Shogunate, and the Great Buddha Takatoku, which was repeatedly rebuilt with funds raised. Behind Kamakura Culture, which is like a mosaic where culture of various eras overlap, are the feelings of the people who loved Kamakura, the ancient capital of the samurai.