Kamakura, Kanagawa

Surrounded by mountains on three sides and the open water of Sagami Bay on the fourth, Kamakura is a natural fortress. During the Heian period it was the chief city of the Kanto region, and from the 12th through 14th centuries the Minamoto shoguns ruled Japan from here under what is known as the Kamakura Shogunate.

Buddha (1252CE)
Kamakura is now mainly known for its temples and shrines. Kotokuin, with the monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha, is the most famous of these. A 15th Century tsunami destroyed the temple in which the Great Buddha was once housed, but the statue survived and has remained outdoors ever since. Magnificent Zen temples like Kenchoji and Enkakuji, the Tokeiji (a nunnery that was a refuge for women who wanted to divorce their husbands), the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine and the Hase Kannon Temple complete the list of Kamakura's most famous historical and religious sites.

Kamakura has a popular beach which, in combination with the temples and the proximity to Tokyo, makes it a popular tourist destination. The city is well-provided with restaurants and other tourist-oriented amenities.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 168,137 and the density of 4,245.88 persons per km². The total area is 39.60 km².

The city was founded on November 3, 1939.

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