Yamanouchi, Kamakura

Yamanouchi (山ノ内 or 山之内）) is a neighborhood of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Because of the presence of East Japan Railway Company's (JR) Kita-Kamakura Station, it is better known as Kita-Kamakura. It lies within the Ofuna administrative subdivision of the city of Kamakura.

Although very small, it is famous for its traditional atmosphere and the presence, among others, of three of the five highest-ranking Rinzai Zen temples in Kamakura, the Kamakura Five Zen Temples, or Kamakura Gozan (鎌倉五山):

• The Kenchō-ji. Number one of the Five Zen Temples, the oldest in Kamakura (built 1253) and one of the oldest in all Japan. The temple bell has been designated a National Treasure and there's a nice Zen garden as well.

• The Engaku-ji. Number two of Kamakura's Five Zen Temples, founded in 1282 to commemorate soldiers who fell fighting off the Mongol invasion the previous year. The Shariden building on the grounds is reputed to contain one of the teeth of the Buddha. The movie director Ozu Yasujiro is buried here. Detailed instructions to find his grave can be found here[1].

• The Jōchi-ji (浄智寺) is ranked four of the five. Technically a branch of the Engaku-ji, it's on the opposite side of the railroad tracks and just a few hundred meters away.

Also of note:

• The Tōkei-ji is a nunnery famous in the feudal days for sheltering abused women, who could obtain a divorce by staying here for three years. Has a large and atmospheric graveyard. Also called Kakekomidera (the fugitive temple), and famous for its hydrangeas.
• The Meigetsu-in (明月院), nicknamed "Temple of Hydrangeas" (ajisai-dera)

The artist Isamu Noguchi lived and worked here in 1952. Film director Yasujiro Ozu lived near Jōchi-ji from 1952 until his death.

References

• A Brief History of Kamakura
• 山ノ内 Japanese Wikipedia
• Kamakura from Wikitravel

External Links

• Welcome To Kita-Kamakura Site of the Kita-Kamakura Commerce and Tourism Association (北鎌倉の商観光を考える会) (In Japanese)
• Directions to Yasujiro Ozu's Grave