Omachi / Zaimokuza大町・材木座

A coastal path that exhibits the salty "taste" of the sea. The origin of Kamakura, the old capital between the 12th and 14th centuries.

Omachi and Zaimokuza are situated on the eastern side of the Nameri-gawa River that flows through the city of Kamakura. As the name Zaimokuza ("Zaimoku" means timber) suggests, it was once the area that contained Japan's oldest harbor, where timber was brought to build Kamakura. Zaimokuza Beach is a popular beach resort, and it is crowded with people from neighboring towns and cities in summer. You can enjoy a leisurely walk along the beach, breathing in the salty tang of the sea.

In the Omachi and Zaimokuza area, there are many historical sites that retain so much evidence that the area was the origin of the old capital, Kamakura. There is Moto-Hachiman Shrine erected by the Kamakura Shogun Minamoto-no-Yoritomo in the 12th century. Chosho-ji Temple enshrines the statue of the great Buddhist monk Nichiren of the 13th century. There is also Kuhon-ji Temple, where a cemetery of the war dead was created by Nitta Yoshisada, a samurai general who made inroads to Kamakura.

Omachi and Zaimokuza are also known for many temples that are associated with flowers. For instance, the whole precinct of An'yo-in Temple becomes abundant with azalea flowers in spring, and Ankokuron-ji Temple is proud of crab apple trees and sasanqua, which are both natural Kamakura monuments. These places are visited by lots of people during the flowering seasons.