Museum excursions
Museum Excursions (Yuigahama Station area, Hase Station area)
- Hase Station
- 5 minutes-walk
- The Kannon Museum
(at Hasedera Temple)- 10 minutes-walk
- Kamakura Museum of Literature
- 6 minutes-walk
- Yuigahama Station
Hase Station Start
Take the Enoden to enjoy the museums in the Hase area by the seaside.
Spot.01
The Kannon Museum
(at Hasedera Temple)
Hase Station area
Curator's recommends
Komachi
The grounds of Hasedera Temple are vast and there’s a lot to see here. This place is famous for the hydrangea that blossom in the early summer.
There’s a museum next to the Kannon Temple. Let ’s go!
Shirasu
So many statues of the Kannon!
The grounds of Hasedera Temple are vast and there’s a lot to see here. This place is famous for the hydrangea that blossom in the early summer.
There’s a museum next to the Kannon Temple. Let ’s go!
Shirasu
So many statues of the Kannon!
Miura Hiroki, Curator, The Kannon Museum
Hello. My name is Miura Hiroki and I am a curator at the Kannon Museum.
This group of sculptures embodies the transformation into thirty-three avatars of the Kannon (ogenshin) to lead people to enlightenment, an act of charity by the Kannon Bosatsu. Based on inscriptions in the interior of the statues, we think that these venerable images was created as early as the second half of the 15th century.
The figures are about one meter tall, and the group is an important cultural property. It is rare in Japan to have a complete set of the thirty-three statues.
This group of sculptures embodies the transformation into thirty-three avatars of the Kannon (ogenshin) to lead people to enlightenment, an act of charity by the Kannon Bosatsu. Based on inscriptions in the interior of the statues, we think that these venerable images was created as early as the second half of the 15th century.
The figures are about one meter tall, and the group is an important cultural property. It is rare in Japan to have a complete set of the thirty-three statues.
Komachi
If you look carefully, they are all different. Very interesting!
I want to linger here to look at them.
If you look carefully, they are all different. Very interesting!
I want to linger here to look at them.
10minutes-walk
Spot.02
Kamakura Museum of Literature
Hase Station area
Curator's recommends
Shirasu
Hello. Look, there’s a view of the sea from the gallery!
Hello. Look, there’s a view of the sea from the gallery!
Yamada Masako, Curator, Kamakura Museum of Literature
Hello. My name is Masako Yamada and I am the curator at the Kamakura Museum of Literature.
The museum’s building has been remodeled from what was originally the summer home of the family of Marquess Maeda. It was built in 1936. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Oshima, an island off the Izu Peninsula from the windows that face seaward. The lighting fixtures and stained glass in each room of the museum are also not to be missed.
The museum’s building has been remodeled from what was originally the summer home of the family of Marquess Maeda. It was built in 1936. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Oshima, an island off the Izu Peninsula from the windows that face seaward. The lighting fixtures and stained glass in each room of the museum are also not to be missed.
Komachi
I'll say. Can you recommend any exhibits?
I'll say. Can you recommend any exhibits?
Yamada Masako, Curator, Kamakura Museum of Literature
I’d say the “Kamakura Literati” corner in our Standing Exhibition Room 1. The Kamakura Literati organized some activities that were quite unique for writers associated with Kamakura. Kume Masao, Osaragi Jiro, and Kawabata Yasunari opened the Kamakura Bunko lending bookshop during World War II. They also organized carnivals and all sorts of other events in Kamakura. The panels present photographs from back then.
Shirasu
Look! Yasunari Kawabata was a judge at a beauty contest!
Komachi
You don’t expect writers to be involved in these activities. But by the way, can you recommend any books set in Kamakura?
Look! Yasunari Kawabata was a judge at a beauty contest!
Komachi
You don’t expect writers to be involved in these activities. But by the way, can you recommend any books set in Kamakura?
Yamada Masako, Curator, Kamakura Museum of Literature
Two that come to mind are Natsume Soseki’s The Gate, which is set in Engakuji, in Kita-Kamakura, and Kawabata Yasunari’s The Sound of the Mountain, which is set in Hase. Actually, our building was the model for the villa in Mishima Yukio’s Spring Snow. That book includes a scene in which the owner uses a telescope to look at the sea from his villa.
Komachi
Is that right? I will read it.
Shirasu
What are the other highlights of this museum?
Is that right? I will read it.
Shirasu
What are the other highlights of this museum?
Yamada Masako, Curator, Kamakura Museum of Literature
The roses in the garden are lovely in spring and fall. And they include varieties of roses that originated in Kamakura and can be seen nowhere else. We also hold classical and jazz concerts in the garden when the roses are in season. An open-air concert is quite special, you know.
Komachi and Shirasu
We want to come for the music!!
We want to come for the music!!
6minutes-walk
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- Kita-Kamakura Station area
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