Core of Kamakura, Hachimangu Shrine

Because it is famous for its beautiful lotus flowers, I visited Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. But later I learned that this shrine was, geographically and culturally, the center of the city of Kamakura, the first Samurai capital.

This discovery made a perfect sense to me because once I stepped out of JR Kamakura station, I was naturally 'led' to the shrine without even noticing it. When you exit at the east exit of JR Kamakura station, the pretty red torii gate on the left catches your attention because everybody else is heading toward it. You follow the horde and reach Hachimangu Shrine. The samurai city of Kamakura was designed around it and an impressive 2km-long approach stretches straight to the ocean, to Sagami bay. It must be such a sight to behold up from the sky. Although it was a weekday, the shrine was bustling with visitors, which included many foreign tourists, and I learned anew how popular this shrine is. As you can see from my pictures, this shrine is quite gorgeous and has a reputation for its seasonal beauty. To access, follow the horde from the east exit of JR Kamakura station and you'll be there in 10 minutes!