Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine: Popular Spiritual Shrine in Kamakura

Tsugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (鶴岡八幡宮) is visited by tourists from all over Japan as one of the most popular spiritual places where they can get energy.

The shrine was built in 1063 and moved to the current site in 1180 in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Today, the shrine and Kamakura itself are popular tourist destinations.

In Kamakura Period, samurai controlled the country and put the government in Kamakura. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine has been visited to worship by samurai and citizens since then.

There are some ponds in the site, and the largest one is Genpei Pond where red and white lotuses color its surface in summer. Cherry blossoms also flourish over it in spring.

In New Year’s holidays, the shrine attracts about 2.5 million visitors only for 3 days (January 1–3), and it opens 24 hours on the days.

Kamakura area also offers many other attractions such as shopping and dining. You will see numbers of souvenir stores, food stalls and restaurants lined along the 2km-long approach to the shrine.

In parallel with the approach, Komachi Dori Shopping Street (小町通り)runs where further more stores sell Japanese souvenirs, snacks and so on.

Tsugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

Access: 10 mins walk from Kamakura Station (JR Shonan-shinjuku Line/Yokosuka Line)

Hours: 6:00 to 21:00/Open 24 hours (1st to 3rd January)

Estimated visitors on New Year holidays: 2.5 million

MAP

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is very accessible from Tokyo since it takes only about an hour to get there and doesn’t need to change trains from Tokyo Station to Kamakura Station.

Why don’t you enjoying a day trip to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and Kamakura from Tokyo??

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Written by

Yusuke-s

I'm writing by my motto: helping travelers spend their limited time experiencing something priceless in Japan. My articles won't let you down! Living in Tokyo and traveling many popular and hidden sites all over Japan, I deliver well-selected and latest tourist information to you from the perspective of “100% Japanese local”. My specific interests are island hopping, eating countless bowls of ramen, watching anime and reading manga. Enjoy Japan Web Magazine for recommended food spots, hidden gems Japanese Otaku (geek) culture, and everything about Japan :)