Culture of Kanagawa. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Kanagawa is one of the most modern and economically developed prefectures in Japan. Besides breathtaking natural landscapes, the region is home to many interesting cultural landmarks. The ancient city of Kamakura is an important landmark of not only the region but also the country in general. This is a must-visit destination for everyone interested in Buddhism and Shintoism because Kamakura is the location of two ancient temples, namely, Amanawa Shinmei Shrine and Sugimoto-dera. According to historical data, the temples were built in the 8th century AD. Don’t forget to visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura – a monumental bronze statue that is one of the highest Buddha statues in Japan. For many years, it was the second tallest statue in the country, with only the statue in the Todaiji Temple in Nara being ahead.

Without a doubt, Tsurugaoka Hachimangū is the most famous Shinto temple in Kamakura. Built yet in the 11th century, the temple keeps amazing its numerous visitors. It is in wonderful condition for such an old building. There is a road that connects the main entrance to the coast. It is Wakamiya Ōji, which is particularly picturesque during the sakura blooming season. There are two charming ponds not far from the complex. These are Genji and Heike with fabulous lotus flowers. There is a bridge between the ponds. According to a legend, the person who can walk on this bridge without any help will have a long life.

Engaku-ji is a gorgeous Zen Buddhist temple that is one of the most important landmarks in Kamakura. The temple complex consists of several buildings. At the moment, this is the oldest example of Chinese architecture in Japan. For travelers, it will be also very interesting to visit Shari-den, or Shrine of the Sacred Tooth of the Buddha. This is an important landmark of the country-level. Finally, don’t forget to visit museums of Kamakura, namely, the museums of history and modern art. They offer interesting exhibitions dedicated to historical data and collections of paintings, graphics, gravures, and sculptures of Japanese painters of different epochs. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Hakone Open-Air Museum is the first open-air museum in Japan. Open in the 60s of the previous century, the museum keeps developing and offering new and interesting artworks to numerous guests. There are five different exhibition halls in the museum in total, the total area of which is more than 70 thousand square meters. At this museum, visitors can see works of such famous masters as Picasso, Rodent, Bourdelle, and Henry Moore. There is even a unique rotating exhibition dedicated to Moore’s works, featuring some of the most notable creations of the famous artist. The museum’s territory also has an area with hot springs where visitors can relax.

Odawara Castle built in the 15th century is an eye-catching landmark with an interesting and original design. The fortress was once a residence for several generations of the Hojo clan, but the building was damaged severely after it had been conquered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. A massive reconstruction started only in 1960. Thanks to it, modern travelers can see the castle in its full glory. At the moment, there is a museum open in the castle, which exhibits a rich collection of artifacts belonging to different epochs. This gorgeous landmark is located in the city with the same name in Kanagawa prefecture.

In one of the largest cities of the prefecture – Kawasaki – travelers can visit a museum dedicated to Toshiba Company. The exhibition tells not only about the development of the international company but also about the history of electronics in general. A visit to the museum is an interesting way to find out more about the development of first TVs, video recorders, and tape-recorders before modern digital technologies. Besides traditional exhibition halls, there are unique experimental areas in the museum. Everyone is welcome to visit them and feel like an inventor and innovator and learn more about the construction of usual devices.

The Hakone Shrine was built in the 9th century not far from the city of Hakone. The shrine is in excellent condition and keeps exciting its numerous guests. The main building of the complex that once was a treasury is currently a museum with a rich collection of different ancient artifacts that have a great historic value. By the way, there is a magnificent park with century-old cedars not far from the temple. It is a truly marvelous and inspiring place. Travelers can also visit hot springs that are within a walking distance of the shrine. Swimming in these springs is good for health.

In the Museum of Kanagawa Prefecture that is located in Yokohama, visitors will get acquainted with the history of the prefecture and its most important cities. Founded in the second half of the previous century, the museum is widely recognized as an important cultural heritage landmark in Japan. The collection exhibited includes items dedicated to the Pacific conflict, the development of Yokohama port, and other important events in the history of the prefecture. The archive also includes many old historical documents and artifacts. Besides the permanent exhibition, visitors can watch a documental film about Kanagawa.