Kamakura is pure Japan. Often called “the little Kyoto”, Kamakura has hundreds of temples scattered around the hilly, green city and is only 1 hour from Tokyo by train.
Kamakura is also where the first samurai government was established in 1185. The very first shogun, Minamoto-no Yoritomo, was handsome, fashionable and sophisticated. He built a political powerhouse that worked through logic, systems and contracts. These concepts seem quite reasonable to us now, but at the time his way—the Kamakura way— was a new style of governing in Japan and quite advanced for its time. His spirit can still be found in the residents living here today. They are cool, dignified and reliable.
A tiny tram nicknamed the Eno-den, winds through west Kamakura. It is also quite enjoyable. The tram passes over a single rail that runs between old Japanese houses soon after leaving Kamakura station. And then, it runs very close to the coast and finally reaches Enoshima.