Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

This is a very large and popular Shinto Shrine constructed in the 11th century and consisting of an impressive complex of buildings set amongst parkland and buildings. We visited on an important Shinyo holiday so the site was quite crowded but this didn't detract from the spectacle.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is one of those shrines that feels grand the moment you enter, with its long approach framed by ponds, bridges, and tall trees that guide you toward the main hall. Even if you’ve seen countless photos, the scale and atmosphere hit differently in person—wide stone steps rising up to the bright red shrine buildings, the sound of drums or prayers drifting through the air, and the flow of people moving at an unhurried pace. It’s usually crowded, especially on weekends and holidays, with tourists, school groups, and locals all weaving through the paths, but the size of the grounds keeps it from feeling claustrophobic. There’s a lot to explore: smaller sub-shrines tucked into quiet corners, koi-filled ponds, seasonal flowers, and long, shaded walkways that are perfect for strolling. The shrine is active, so you’ll often see ceremonies, weddings, or blessings happening, which adds to the cultural depth of the visit. The climb up the main staircase can be a bit tiring, but the view of Kamakura from the top—roofs, hills, and the long avenue stretching to the sea—is worth it. Around New Year and festival days, be prepared for serious crowds and lines, but on regular days it’s easy to find peaceful spots if you wander off the main path. There are plenty of cafés and shops nearby, and the whole area feels lively without being overwhelming. Overall, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is a beautiful, vibrant, and culturally rich shrine that captures the spirit of Kamakura, and even with the crowds, it’s a must-visit.

It’s a nice shrine just like others. I like that it’s on the hill so you can see the view of dankazura. The temple itself is not really big but it’s surrounded with trees. The atmosphere is nice. But it was so crowded, so it doesn’t feel calm or peaceful. However, the temple is not far from the JR station. You can walk through the street food which makes this trip more enjoyable.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura is a stunning temple filled with elegance and history. We were lucky to witness a traditional wedding-related ceremony, adding a rare, magical touch that made the visit even more special and memorable.

We visited Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and really enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful and peaceful shrine surrounded by nature. The atmosphere felt calm and relaxing. I was also happy to find some street food stalls near the entrance the snacks were delicious and made the visit even better!

The shrine is really popular. Since we came on Saturday, there's a lot of tourist. Even some children from different schools were sightseeing at this time. We are so glad that we got a chance to see a wedding ceremony. It was really amazing to see how the traditional wedding goes. You can also go inside the shrine. There are some stalls that sells tanghulu and accessories. The place is pretty crowded so it is recommended to go on a weekdays. The shrine was also highly maintained.

Main shrine in Kamakura and always busy as everyone is visiting this place. Thrones above town in a majestic Männer, so after praying you can have a nice view over the central street. Goshuin takes a bit longer here compared to other Kamakura shrines with queuing due to the masses.

I highly recommend visiting this shrine, especially during the early morning hours. I arrived around 8 AM and it was nearly empty, making the entire experience incredibly peaceful and calming. The views around the shrine are fantastic absolutely gorgeous in every direction and the serenity adds to the overall impact. From this location, it’s also very easy to visit another nearby shrine, so you can enjoy both in one outing. Entry is completely free; you do not need a ticket to access the grounds. However, once you’re inside the main shrine, be mindful not to take any photos. There are signs clearly indicating this, and if you miss them, someone nearby will likely remind you. The energy of this place felt very tranquil and grounding. I took my time strolling through the area, enjoying the stillness and beauty. The flowers surrounding the shrine were in full bloom and made everything even more stunning. This was a 10 out of 10 experience, and I absolutely recommend stopping here before moving on to the next shrine nearb

One of the top attractions in Kamakura and for good reason. The San-no torii gate at the entrance is pretty big and makes for a beautiful photo op. My friend told me to bow upon reaching it. After passing the gate, we crossed the short Taiko bridge, which is another good opportunity for a picture! Then, we walked along the Sando path, which is a straight lead up to the Grand Stairway. The steps looked like too much for me on a rainy day, and it was getting dark, so I passed on heading up to the shrine. My friend did though, but there was nowhere for me to sit and wait for her. I was extremely tired after a long day of exploring Kamakura, and my feet were screaming in pain by then. It's quite the distance from the train station but definitely walkable if you have the energy. We walked along Komachi Street, which had many eateries and shops to make the walk more bearable, before switching to walking along the dankazura, which is a pathway in the middle of the street among whizzing cars lined with cherry trees (according to Gmaps). I didn't realize the trees were cherry trees. While it's serene, I recommend walking on Komachi Street for as long as possible because the pathway gets pretty boring after a while.

Beautiful and sacred spot--worth the visit! Even though it was rainy the day we went, this place was still busy and clearly a popular destination. The grounds are stunning, with a picturesque bridge over a pond leading up to the shrine. At the top, there's a small museum inside the shrine house featuring cultural artifacts from the Kamakura period, which adds a rich historical touch. The surrounding walking trails are peaceful and serene--perfect for a quiet stroll. It's also super convenient, located right at the end of the shopping streets and just a short walk from the JR Kamakura Station East Exit. Recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

Beautiful temple that is one of Kamakura's top attractions. It's located ontop of a hill and there's quite some walking to do before you even get to the bottom of the temple. From there you have a lot of stairs to climb before getting to the top, but it's well worth it! Architecture of the temple is intricate, beautiful and detailed. There's also some inari shrines near the top as well that you can check out. Surrounding the temple area is filled with greenery, shops and snacks you can check out. A must visit when in Kamakura!

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu / Kamakura -- High on a hill, this was certainly the most imposing Shinto temple that Jamie W. and I came across in Kamakura. We walked on the long central promenade after wrapping up our edible adventures on Komachi Dori. After the entry torii gate, we came upon the Maiden Pavilion where the annual Shinto rituals are performed (photo: https://yelp.to/NYvY3NDRde). Then it was up the steep stone stairway (photo: https://yelp.to/fkBhW4vaVS), a bit of a challenge on a sweltering day, to get to the Honten where worshippers pray at the entrance. It's forbidden to enter the temple, and they don't allow the taking of close-up photos of the outside. However, to the left of the main building was the Maruyama Inari Shrine where visitors were welcomed (photo: https://yelp.to/ZAuM4Jl4hM). Although the architecture was quite impressive, I have to say the most memorable sights were the abundance of lotus plants and hungry carp at Genji Pond. You can buy a bag of bread crumbs and watch the voracious fish jump and shove each other away (photo: https://yelp.to/11i3Stnnbq). It was quite a scene that amused not only children but me, truly the survival of the fittest (video: https://yelp.to/SQPKnyM1t7). RELATED - Exploring Japan? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2qrUBZo

Very beautiful temple that is the main attraction in Kamakura. More than the traditional Japanese architecture, there was a lot of garden and greenery spaces to walk around and admire. Easily walkable from the Kamakura train station along Komachi-dori Street, it's extremely popular with tourists and so gets crowded quick. Definitely a must see if you're in the area!

The main tourist spot in Kamakura! I went there at night and in early morning to beat the crowds. The night view is actually very pretty, and I felt like I could appreciate the magnificence of the Shrine even more at night.

We visited Tsurugaoka Hachimangu during a day trip to Kamakura a couple weeks back. It was a gorgeous temple, but to be perfectly honest, it was our last stop on a boiling hot Sunday, and none of us were trying to hang out for very long. There was an attractive but very long, unshaded promenade leading up to the main shrine, followed by lots of stairs. I imagine this would've been lovely, and also much more crowded in good weather. There was plenty of greenery around, including a lush growth of lotus leaves in a pond on the way in (I'm looking at Wikipedia, and this appears to be one of two famous ponds attached to the temple, called the Genpei Ponds). I'm sure this is an amazing place to see cherry blossoms in bloom. The temple is striking (and yes, the drama of that long walkway added to the effect). The original shrine is almost a thousand years old, and walking around the grounds, we could feel all that history. Unfortunately, we also felt the roasting September heat. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is a primary hub of Kamakura life, where festivals and other cultural events are held throughout the year. I live in the young state of California, so a place like this, where you can just hang out with your friends in the middle of such beauty and antiquity, strikes me as really special. We had a great time in Kamakura, and I'd recommend both the town and this temple if you want to venture out of Tokyo. I'm very glad we visited Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, even if we didn't explore as much as we might have on a more temperate day.

This was my favorite attraction in all of Kamakura. It was just as nice as any of the temples in Kyoto. The main temple serves as a Shinto shrine, but for most of its history it was also used as a Buddhist temple. As a result, Buddhist characteristics are noticeable in its architecture. As you approach the temple grounds, there are several large torii gates. Next, you'll see two large ponds are on either side of the approach and a small maiden shrine for worship. A garden where cherry blossoms bloom is also here. Then, you will have to walk up a great stone staircase to the main shrine. This place is simply a large and gorgeous sight to behold. The shrine is easily accessible by public transport. It is only a ten minute walk from JR Kamakura Station.

Tsuruoka Hachimangu shrine is the most famous tourist spot in Kamakura. Splendid and big main building. Mysterious and very large precincts of the shrine. Japanese style wedding at Maiden building. Cool arch bridge. All of them are really great. I hope you visit to here and touch a Japanese tradition. We can get "Goshuin" (handwritten sign and stamp of shrines and temples) at here. If you want it, you should visit Goshuin window at the right side on the bottom of the staircase to the main building. It's next to the shrine shop. Goshuin charges 500 yen. And, they have the original Goshuin collection books of this shrine, too. It charges 1700 yen. When you buy the collecting book at here, then you can start to collect Goshuin from here. And more, there are some auxiliary shrines in the precincts. Especially big one is Hataage Benzaiten shrine. It's in the middle of Genpei pond. This shrine enshrine Benzaiten god. She brings your good luck for artistic creations and learnings. She is one of Seven Gods of Good Fortune in Japan. They are called "Shichifukujin". And, there is the pilgrimage round as "Shichifukujin" on Kamakura area and Enoshima area. This shrine is one place of the pligrimage round. Also we can get Goshuin of this auxiliary shrine. If you want it, you should visit the shrine shop at the right side by the auxiliary shrine. It charges 300 yen. Details about Goshuin is below. http://60ee3107.starfree.jp/goshuin.html 鶴岡八幡宮は言わずと知れた鎌倉の有名な観光名所です。 大きくて素晴らしい本宮。 神秘的でとにかく広い境内。 舞殿で執り行われる結婚式。 どれもこれも素晴らしいです。 ぜひ一度は訪れてみて欲しいところです。 そして、ここ鶴岡八幡宮でも御朱印を頂戴する事が出来ます。 本宮へと続く階段の下、右側にある御朱印所で頂けます。 御朱印所は、授与所の右隣にあります。 初穂料は500円です。 また、鶴岡八幡宮オリジナルの御朱印帳も入手する事が出来ます。 御朱印帳は1700円でした。 この鶴岡八幡宮の境内にはいくつかの摂社、末社も鎮座しています。 特に大きくて有名なのは旗上弁財天社でしょう。 旗上弁財天社は源平池の真ん中にあります。 名称の通り、弁財天を祀っていて、この弁財天は鎌倉江の島七福神の1人になっています。 また、この鎌倉江の島七福神を巡る七福神巡りもあります。 この旗上弁財天社の御朱印もあり、こちらは旗上弁財天社右側にある授与所で頂戴する事が出来ます。 こちらの初穂料は300円でした。 御朱印については下記のリンク先にまとめてあります。 http://60ee3107.starfree.jp/goshuin.html

Even the promenade leading to the shrine was a joy. Before getting to the shrine from the train station, I got to experience a nice, relaxing stroll down this long street lined with shops of all sorts and strong bodies ready to give visitors a ride on their very posh and plush red Japanese Rickshaw (人力車). I am sure it would have been fun to ride in one but was on a clear mission to get to the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine. The day must have been incredibly auspicious as I witnessed quite a few traditional Japanese weddings being held at the shrine. After entering through the open courtyard, to the left you will see a bunch of white large sake drums often mistaken as lanterns by foreigners that were donated by various businesses and organizations. At the center is a beautiful multi-level open structure with food offerings being laid out for the wedding ceremony. Up the long stone staircase resides the main shrine which was under renovation. Monks were chanting inside the shrine where people can pay to sit in and be "blessed". I learned how to perform the prayer correctly with the help of my Japanese friend. First you face the alter where the deity/deities sat and then you stand straight and bow twice, then you extend your arms forward and clap your palms twice, say your prayers and then you take one last bow. I am just loving this! Another interesting ritual I have noticed is that one can pay money to get their fortunes told. You receive a piece of paper detailing everything from career, relationships, transportation, etc. If you don't like what's being said, you can tie it to one of the wooden/bamboo rods which appear to be a large wooden panel with little knots tied to a bulletin board. This indicated that you did not like the fortune received and perhaps the shrine with its power can dis-spell your bad luck. The surrounding gardens and structures were simply breath-taking! It's definitely a must when you are at Kamakura.

Kamakura is filled with stunning temples - the biggest and most famous being Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, which is a five minute walk from Kamakura Station. I'm slightly biased towards this temple, as this is the one I always go to to get my blessings (and my grandfather was a temple elder there when he was alive). Built in 1063, it is absolutely breathtaking. At New Year, around 30,000 people will gather to pay their respects, and it was absolutely rammed when I went. Being Japan, of course, it was the most civilised crowd ever, but if you are claustrophobic I strongly suggest not going there on January 1st! Hachimangu is filled with interesting street food vendors, too - so it's worth checking them out if you're a fan of street food - Japanese street food is awesome.

There is a history here. You should come, feel and experience this atmosphere. July is the season for Lotus flower! So nice!!