About
Passing through the tranquil residential areas of Kamakura and stepping onto a quietly nestled path, one finds a landscape that transcends the flow of time. This path is known as “Yatozaka no Kiritoshi,” commonly called “Onnazaka,” and it once served as an old road connecting Tebiro, Koshigoe Village, and Katase Village, supporting the comings and goings of people.
At your feet, moss-covered stone steps continue on, while steep rock walls rise on both sides. The surfaces of these rocks bear traces of weathering etched over many years, evoking the depth of history woven by both nature and human hands. Partway along the path, on the left, there is a cave called a yagura, where gravestones still quietly stand. This tells of how this place has long been a site of people’s lives and faith.
Proceeding further, the path gently transforms into a cut through the land, and the rock walls on both sides seem to close in. It is said that this cut was created in its current form at the end of the Edo period, when villagers from Tebiro raised donations and undertook excavation work to make the slope more gradual. The fruit of their efforts still lives on in this place today.
Alongside the path, there are Koshinto and Dosojin stone monuments, reflecting the prayers for safety by travelers and villagers. These stone markers are proof of the path’s role as an old road and evoke images of its former bustle.
Eventually, the path leads to a ridge, from which you can see the townscape of Tebiro and, in the distance, the statue of Kannon in Ofuna. This view soothes the fatigue of a long journey and gives new vitality. Beyond the ridge, another cut appears, and the path continues into a quiet residential area.
Unlike the Seven Entrances of Kamakura, this “Onnazaka” is not well known as a tourist spot, but for that very reason, its untouched nature and history remain deeply preserved. Those who visit will surely rediscover the profound charm of Kamakura in this place where past and present intersect in silence.