Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

Originally erected and founded by Minamoto Yoritomo in 1063, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is the most important Shinto Shrine in the famous resort city of Kamakura, near Yokohama. Its popularity among Japanese tourists of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is almost without limit and its 1.8km long approach gives the shrine its unique sense of grandeur that unfortunately quickly vanishes once you are standing in the shrine’s main hall. But then again, it is only when you are looking back on your path that you can really appreciate the inner beauty of this temple.

Speaking of the shrine’s main approach, did you know that the two ponds flanking it have a dedicated meaning? Indeed the pond that features three islands represents the Minamoto Clan, while the other represents the Taira Clan, Minamoto’s arch rival and has four islands. While this may sound unimportant to most of us, the number four in Japan is also known as the unluckiest number since in Japanese its pronunciation is similar to the word “death”…