Kamakura

Kamakura is a Japanese city south of Tokyo that sits on the sea and offers an intriguing blend of historic sites and ultramodern resort town amenities. Here visitors will find dozens of Zen Buddhist temples and shrines dedicated to Shinto deities. Among the most famed landmarks here is the Great Buddha, a gigantic bronze statue that rises 13 metres into the air and is hundreds of years old, even withstanding a tsunami in the 15th century. Surfers love this town for Yuigahama Beach along Sagami Bay, which boasts fantastic pipes. Other popular beaches include Zushi Beach and Inamuragasaki Park.

Among the most popular temples in the region are Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, a Shinto shrine dating to the 19th century; Hasedera, a Buddhist temple complex dating to the 8th century; and the historic 13th-century Zen Buddhist Engakuji Temple. You’ll find serenity in the outdoors at Genjiyama Park, Kamakura Central Park and the Ten-en Hiking Course. For even more culture, visit the Yoh Shomei Art Museum.