Kamakura, Kanagawa
Crowds of visitors in Kamakura
Surrounded by mountains on three sides and the open water of Sagami Bay on the fourth, Kamakura is a natural fortress. During the Middle Ages it was the chief city of the Kanto region, and from the 12th through 14th centuries the Minamoto shoguns ruled Japan from here. Kamakura is now mainly known for its temples and shrines. Kotokuin, with the monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha, is the most famous of these. Magnificent Zen temples like Kenchoji and Engakuji, the Tokeiji temple (a nunnery that was a refuge for women who wanted to divorce their husbands), the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine and the Hase Kannon Temple complete the list of Kamakura's most famous historical and religious sites.
As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 168,137 and the density of 4,245.88 persons per km². The total area is 39.60 km².
The city was founded on November 3, 1939.