Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine 鶴岡八幡宮

Dedicated to Hachiman, the guardian deity of samurai, this beautiful shrine has existed for over 800 years. Enjoy a peaceful respite and the gorgeous views on the approach.

The shrine is easily accessible by public transportation.

From Tokyo, take the JR Yokosuka Line for about an hour. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is a 10-minute walk from JR Kamakura Station.

In 1063, the head of the Minamoto clan, Minamoto Yoriyoshi, established a small shrine called Tsurugaoka-gu (now known as Yui Wakamiya),to thank the deities for victory in battle. His descendant, Yoritomo, moved the shrine to its current location in 1180 when he made Kamakura his home and the de facto capital of Japan during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). By shifting power to the east from Kyoto and establishing the idea of the military rule, known as the shogunate, Yoritomo began an era that would continue until 1868.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is inextricably linked with nearly a century of Japanese history and culture. Today, the shrine, which stands at the center of Kamakura , is widely considered the soul of the city. You enter through many massive red torii gates that stretch through the center of Kamakura . On either side of the wide road leading up to the shrine are two ponds, representing the Minamoto clan, who founded the shrine and the Kamakura Shogunate, and the Taira, their bitter rivals. The peony garden beside Minamoto Pond is open in winter and spring when the peonies are in bloom.

A great stone staircase leads you to the Main Shrine. Alongside the shrine is a museum devoted to its sacred treasures. Other attractions include the Maiden (Lower Worship Hall), where Shinto rituals accompanied by sacred dance performances take place.

In April, a massive festival centered around the shrine attracts thousands of visitors, as does the yabusame horseback archery ritual in September.