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Yokohama-Kamakura - Tokyo Hotels .com

A traditional house in Yokohama-Kamakura, Tokyo

Just 18 miles south of Tokyo is Yokohama, Japan's second largest city. Once a small fishing village, in the mid-1800s Yokohama quickly became the center of foreign trade in Japan, and it is now Japan's largest international port, surrounded by a bustling international community. Each year in June, the city hosts the Yokohama Kaiko-sai (Port Opening) Festival, which includes a sea cruise, games, and delicious international cuisine.

While in Yokohama, be sure to check out the grand Minato Mirai 21 complex, a space-age center which hosts three first-class hotels, Japan's tallest building, two wonderful museums--the Yokohama Museum of Art and the Yokohama Maritime Museum, a convention center, and an amusement park, among other entertainment. Yokohama is also home to Japan's largest Chinese population and the nation's largest Chinatown, which is well worth exploring.

Further south from Tokyo (but still less than an hour by train) is the seaside town of Kamakura, otherwise known as the ancient capitol of Japan. Today the town is popular among Japanese and international tourists alike because of its high number of ancient shrines, temples, and sprawling sandy beaches. While here, be sure to visit the Great Buddha, which was cast in the 1200s and is still the second largest Buddha statue in Japan.

In October, Kamakura is the site of the highly anticipated Kamakura Takigi Noh at Kamakuragu Shrine. The Takigi-noh is a traditional outdoor Noh (or theatre) performance held at night and illuminated only by small bonfires. If you're planning a trip in spring, be sure to check out the Kamakura Matsuri celebration, honoring Kamakura's heroes of the past. This celebration takes place on the second and third Sundays of April at the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, where sacred dances, horseback archery, and portable shrines unfold. Kamakura's Five Zen Temples spread about the city are worth a visit, especially for the inexpensive sample tea ceremonies they host. Kamakura also has many fine beaches and hiking trails to enjoy.