Visiting places associated with the Kamakura Shogunate - Hojo Yoshitoki
It's been about two months since the NHK historical drama "The 13 Lords of the Kamakura" began airing. The main character, Hojo Yoshitoki, currently gives off the impression of being youthful and dedicated to everything he does. It will be exciting to see how he will go through various twists and turns to become the second regent of the Kamakura Shogunate.
This time, we will introduce places associated with the protagonist, Hojo Yoshitoki.
Spot 1: Hojo Yoshitoki Hokkedo ruins (Tomb of Hojo Yoshitoki)
It is located about a 20-minute walk from Kamakura Station, northeast of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.
After climbing several dozen stone steps, you will come to a small open area. This is said to be the site of Hojo Yoshitoki's Hokkedo Hall. Currently, only the boundaries remain, and no buildings have been erected.
However, if you download the app on your smartphone, you can see the buildings from that time in AR. *Downloading of the dedicated app is required.
Nearby are the graves of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Oe no Hiromoto, which gives us an idea that Hojo Yoshitoki was considered one of the most powerful people at the time.
📍2-5 Nishimikado, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spot 2: Hokaiji Temple
It is about a 15-minute walk from Kamakura Station, at the end of Yokooji Street in front of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.
It was built in 1335 on the site of the former residence of successive Hojo regents, known as the Komachi residence. It is said that Emperor Godaigo ordered Ashikaga Takauji to build it as a memorial for the Hojo clan.
Even ordinary visitors can enter the main hall (fee: 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for junior high school students, 100 yen for children) and view the principal image of the temple, Jizo Bodhisattva Reciting the Child-Rearing Sutra. Hokaiji Temple is also known as the "Temple of Hagi," and the temple grounds are decorated with beautiful flowers throughout the seasons, including cherry blossoms in the spring and bush clover in the fall.
📍3-5-22 Komachi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spot 3: Gokurakuji Temple
Take the Enoshima Electric Railway from Kamakura Station and it is a 2-minute walk from Gokurakuji Station, the fourth station.
It is said to have been built by Hojo Shigetoki, the third son of Hojo Yoshitoki. Shigetoki passed away before the temple was completed, and his sons, Hojo Nagatoki and Hojo Naritoki, took over the construction of the temple complex. At its height, the temple was a large one, with 49 sub-temples, but was destroyed by fire and earthquake, and now only the main gate and the main hall remain.
After passing through the thatched mountain gate, visitors can enjoy the sight of Somei Yoshino cherry trees along the approach to the main hall, and in front of the main hall there is a very rare cherry tree called the "Yae Ichisaki Wake Sakura" in which double and single cherry blossoms bloom on the same branch, which was planted by Hojo Tokimune.
📍3-6-7 Gokurakuji, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spot 4: Futamatagawa and Tsurugamine Battlefield
About 10 minutes walk from Tsurugamine Station on the Sotetsu Line.
The Futamatagawa-Tsurugamine Battlefield is the site of a battle between the forces of Hatakeyama Shigetada, a powerful vassal of Musashi Province (present-day Saitama Prefecture, Tokyo, and eastern Kanagawa Prefecture) who was highly trusted by Minamoto no Yoritomo, and the Kamakura forces led by Hojo Yoshitoki. This battle is said to have been the result of a plot by Hojo Yoshitoki's father, Tokimasa, who wanted to strengthen his control over Musashi Province, and Hojo Yoshitoki opposed the battle until the very end. However, he ultimately led a large army and defeated Hatakeyama Shigetada. Currently, only a monument stands here, but there are several other historical sites nearby, including the well where Hatakeyama Shigetada washed his head and his grave.
In the early Kamakura period, after the death of Minamoto no Yoritomo, there were many power struggles among powerful vassals. This battle was one of the symbolic events of those power struggles, and after that, the Hojo clan gained even more power.
📍1-1 Tsurugamine Honmachi, Asahi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
There are many places associated with Hojo Yoshitoki, but we have introduced four particularly memorable spots. There are places where you can still feel the atmosphere of that time, and places where only traces remain, but if you visit the historical sites while thinking about the people of that time, you may make new discoveries.
Please look forward to the next installment of "Places Associated with the Kamakura Shogun."
*Please note that there are various theories regarding the contents of the column.
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