Kamakura

Kamakura (Kamakura-shi) is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan, about 50 kilometres south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called Renpu. Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is sometimes considered a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the Kamakura Period.

According to The Institute for Research on World-Systems, Kamakura was the 4th largest city in the world in 1250 AD, with 200,000 people, and Japan's largest, eclipsing Kyoto by 1200 AD. As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 173,588 and a density of 4,380 inhabitants per square kilometre. The total area is 39.60 square kilometres.

Kamakura was designated as a city on November 3, 1939. Kamakura has a beach which, in combination with the temples and the proximity to Tokyo, makes it a popular tourist destination. Kamakura's bay has a surf break off of the headland point, albeit an inconsistent one, which makes it at least a second-tier destination for surfers. It is also noted for its senbei, which are crisp rice cakes grilled and sold fresh along the main shopping street. These are very popular with tourists.

The fastest way in is by JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station and Yokohama. The JR Kamakura-Enoshima Free Kippu (¥1,110 from Yokohama, ¥1,970 from Tokyo) gets you a round trip from Tokyo to Kamakura plus unlimited use of Enoden and Shonan Monorail lines.

A cheaper alternative is to take the private Odakyu line from Shinjuku to Fujisawa, then change onto the rattling old Enodenhalf-train/half-streetcar line that terminates in Kamakura. The longer travel time is compensated for by views of Enoshima island and the Shonan coast. The Enoshima-Kamakura Free Pass will get you a roundtrip from Shinjuku and unlimited use of the Enoden line for one day.

Nevertheless, for the energetic ones, there is a nice hike starting from the Tōkeiji and ending near the Kōtokuin. You will walk, with some climbing, through forest. The hike also passes through Zeniarai Benten Shrine, if you are curious about the money washing ceremony. The hike takes about 3 hours, if you also stop and visit the temples along the way. Even in Summer, the shade on the path manages to keep the temperature bearable. If you are on a day-trip, doing the hike of course limits a bit the chances of visiting some of the less reachable temples.