The Minamoto family made Kamakura their capital during their brief rule over Japan. As a result, Kamakura boasts a wealth of temples and shrines, generally within walking distance of each other. The town is a wooded, peaceful respite from the rush of Tokyo and makes an excellent day trip.

Kamakura's sights tend to be clustered into areas in the north, central and west. This makes sightseeing all the more convenient. These areas host the most famous of the temples, and should be a priority when visiting Kamakura. Those who are able to spend more than one day in Kamakura and would like more solitude can find plenty of out-of-the-way temples in eastern Kamakura and on the outskirts of town.

Northern Kamakura

If you're ambitious, a good way to squeeze in lots of sightseeing is to begin in northern Kamakura and work your way south. There are four or five temples in the north that are very important to Zen Buddhism, and they are all within walking distance of Kita-Kamakura station. Engaku-ji is probably the most famous of these, and its also the closest to Kita-Kamakura station. From Engaku-ji, head south to find a series of temples. After seeing these temples, you could hop on the train to the next stop, Kamakura, or follow the road south by foot. By walking, you can see some of the other significant temples which lie between the two train stops, including Kencho-ji temple and Enno-ji temple.

Central Kamakura

In central Kamakura, the most important shrine is the Hachiman-gu. The street that leads from Kamakura Station to the front entrance of this shrine is a pleasant stroll, with lots of souvenir and gift shops worthy of browsing. It is also a good place to stop for lunch. East of Hachiman-gu is another cluster of temples and shrines, including some very secluded spots tucked into the woods. The tomb of the shogun Minamoto is one such place with few visitors and lush paths into the mountain. One could easily spend a half day in central Kamakura exploring these many historical sights, but some time ought to be reserved for visiting south-western Kamakura.

South-Western Kamakura

The best way to get to the temples in south-western Kamakura is to ride the Enoden line, effectively making the trip there half the fun. Train enthusiasts, beware: this train is addictively cute! If you're not careful, you could find yourself walking home with an armload of products featuring cartoon renditions of this adorable train. The Hase stop on this line is close to two important temples. First, you will come to the Kamakura Daibutsu. This is a world-renowed Buddhist image and probably the most famous sight in Kamakura. It is a must-see. Unlike the Daibutsu in Nara, this giant Buddha lost his home over 500 years ago and has been sitting outside in peaceful contemplation ever since. Don't miss the opportunity to climb inside the Buddha's belly- definitely a unique opportunity! The other temple you will not want to miss is the Hase-dera. The view from this temple is enough to make the trip worthwhile, as you can look down over the town and along the beach. There is a spectacular statue of the Kannon with 11 faces, and the grounds are filled with row after row of small jizo statues, sometimes wearing some very original clothing.

Other

If you've already covered the north, central and south-west areas of Kamakura, there is still plenty of temple-hopping potential. From the south-west, head east across the Nameri River and you will find a cluster of about 8 temples all within less than a kilometre walking distance of each other. If you've had enough of temples, you can head for the Sugami bay and visit the stretches of beaches at Yuigahama and Zaimokuza.

For those that live in the Kanto region, Kamakura is a town that you will want to visit again and again. One day trip is really only enough time to take in the most important temples such as the Daibutsu. But there are enough sights in Kamakura to make a series of pleasant trips. One excellent way to explore Kamakura in detail would be to visit during different seasons to see the temples amidst the splendour of flowers, autumn foliage or a layer of snow.