About
Deep within the tranquil forests of Kamakura, beneath a canopy woven from green leaves, the 108 Yagura stand quietly. This place is known as a site where the souls of former samurai dwell, and the stone shrines, polished by the passage of time, gently welcome visitors.
At your feet, moss-covered stone steps continue onward, and with each step, you are enveloped by a sensation where past and present intertwine. The chirping of birds and the whisper of the wind add color to the forest’s silence, calming the heart.
On the walls of the yagura, statues of Buddha and memorial towers, carved across the ages, are lined up. From the expressions on the stone, the prayers and wishes of people from long ago are conveyed. When you put your hands together in prayer, it feels as if you can hear the breathing of samurai from a distant past.
A legend remains here that samurai of the Kamakura period built these yagura as tombs to rest quietly after battle. The number 108 is said to symbolize the number of earthly desires, and is also considered proof of their wish to be released from the sins and worries of their lifetimes.
Around the yagura, flowers of the four seasons bloom in profusion—cherry blossoms dance in spring, lush green leaves flourish in summer, autumn foliage adds color, and in winter, snow falls quietly amidst the silence. The changing of nature harmonizes with the tranquility of the yagura, soothing the hearts of visitors.
When you visit this place, the flow of time feels slow, freeing you from the noise of everyday life. If you touch the stone shrines and close your eyes, stories of samurai from long ago rise up in your mind. The 108 Yagura, as a sacred place of silence connecting past and present, are still deeply engraved in people’s hearts today.