Kamakura National Treasure Museum

Kamakura


This museum displays an excellent collection of Kamakura religious art and statuary. Some are the typically peaceful Jizō (Buddhist patron of travellers, children and the unborn), others more gruesome, like the demonic temple guardians.


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1. Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū

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Kamakura's most important shrine is, naturally, dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war. Minamoto no Yoritomo himself ordered its construction in 1191 and…

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Established in 1253, Japan's oldest Zen monastery is still active today. The central Butsuden (Buddha Hall) was brought piece by piece from Tokyo in 1647…

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5. Sugimoto-dera

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This small temple, founded in AD 734, is reputed to be the oldest in Kamakura. Climb the steep steps up to the ferocious-looking guardian deities and…

6. Hōkoku-ji

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7. Jōmyō-ji

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