Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is the spiritual heart of Kamakura and one of the most important Shinto shrines in eastern Japan. Founded in 1063 and later relocated to its present site by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura Shogunate, the shrine served as the guardian shrine of the samurai government. The approach to the shrine, known as Wakamiya Oji, stretches nearly two kilometers from the coast through the center of Kamakura, lined with cherry trees that create a spectacular tunnel of blossoms in spring. The main shrine buildings sit atop a broad stone staircase, commanding views over the city and the approach below. The grounds include the Maiden dance stage, lotus ponds, a museum of national treasures, and the site where the famous ginkgo tree stood for over 800 years before toppling in 2010.