Kuzuharaoka Shrine on the Daibutsu Hiking Course

A compact historic shrine with distinctive rituals and the story of Hino Toshimoto

Updated August 8, 2026

A Historical Stop Beside Genjiyama Park

Beside Genjiyama Park in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Kuzuharaoka Shrine is a compact historical shrine and natural stopping point along the Daibutsu Hiking Course between Kita-Kamakura and Hase. The grounds include a small worship area, a shrine office where visitors can receive goshuin, and numerous benches positioned around the site. Just south of the main shrine, Hino Toshimoto’s stone grave is designated as a National Historic Site and gives the visit significance beyond the shrine’s small scale.

A shaded entrance leads into Kuzuharaoka Shrine from Genjiyama Park beneath dense summer trees — The shaded entrance to Kuzuharaoka Shrine from Genjiyama Park in midsummer

A stone torii marks the entrance to Kuzuharaoka Shrine beneath dense summer trees — The stone torii marks the formal entrance to Kuzuharaoka Shrine

A stone path runs through dense summer greenery toward the main shrine building at Kuzuharaoka Shrine — The main shrine approach passes through dense summer foliage

Reaching Kuzuharaoka requires more effort than exploring the shrine itself, particularly for hikers arriving over the wooded trail from Kita-Kamakura. Once visitors reach the grounds, the principal features are close together and require little additional walking. About 15–30 minutes is generally enough to worship, see the grave, receive a goshuin when the shrine office is open, and sit for a snack.

For hikers heading toward Hase, Kuzuharaoka provides a useful break before the route continues through the hills and descends toward Kōtoku-in and the Great Buddha. Visitors with additional time can explore Genjiyama Park or detour to Zeniarai Benzaiten before returning to the route. The combination of history, shrine rituals, and practical rest facilities makes Kuzuharaoka Shrine one of the most useful stops along this section of the course.

Hino Toshimoto and His Historic Grave

Kuzuharaoka Shrine is dedicated to Hino Toshimoto, a court noble who served Emperor Go-Daigo during the final years of the Kamakura shogunate. Toshimoto supported imperial efforts to end the military government and restore authority to the emperor. After the effort was uncovered, he was taken to Kamakura and executed at Kuzuharaoka in 1332, one year before the shogunate fell.

A bamboo enclosure surrounds the stone marking Hino Toshimoto’s execution site beside the main shrine — A bamboo enclosure marks the site where Hino Toshimoto was executed on June 3, 1332

The present shrine was established in 1887 to honor Toshimoto near the place associated with his execution. Although the shrine is newer than many of Kamakura’s better-known religious sites, the history commemorated here reaches back to the final years of the Kamakura period. Its connection with Toshimoto and the collapse of the shogunate gives the compact grounds a distinct historical identity.

Hino Toshimoto’s stone grave stands south of the shrine within Genjiyama Park and is designated as a National Historic Site. It is one of the principal historical features of the visit and completes the connection between the shrine and the court noble enshrined there. Because the grave sits apart from the central worship area, visitors need to follow the signs beyond the main shrine grounds to find it.

A stone torii frames the path from Kuzuharaoka Shrine toward Hino Toshimoto’s grave — The path through this torii continues toward Hino Toshimoto’s separately located grave

Stone lanterns and a railing surround the hōkyōintō marking Hino Toshimoto’s grave in Kamakura — Hino Toshimoto’s grave, designated as a National Historic Site, lies separately from the execution marker

What to See at Kuzuharaoka Shrine

Near the entrance, the Masaru-ishi introduces one of the shrine’s most distinctive rituals. Visitors throw a small unglazed ceramic cup, known as a kawarake, against the stone while wishing for misfortune to leave. The name uses Japanese wordplay connecting the removal of evil with overcoming difficulty and moving toward better fortune.

The Masaru Stone is surrounded by broken earthenware dishes near the entrance to Kuzuharaoka Shrine — Visitors throw a small earthenware dish at the Masaru Stone to cast away misfortune

Beyond the entrance, the compact central grounds contain the main worship area dedicated to Hino Toshimoto. The nearby shrine office offers goshuin, ema, amulets, and fortunes during its operating hours. Because the principal features stand close together, visitors can worship and look around without adding much distance to the hiking route.

Red Aizuchi Inari Shrine banners line a stone torii and narrow approach within Kuzuharaoka Shrine — Red banners mark the approach to Aizuchi Inari Shrine within the grounds

Kuzuharaoka Shrine is also known for enmusubi, or blessings associated with matchmaking and positive relationships. The Enmusubi-ishi consists of male and female sacred stones where visitors can attach a five-yen coin tied with red cord after obtaining it from the shrine office. Heart-shaped ema offer another place to leave a wish and are among the most recognizable features around the grounds.

The male and female Enmusubi Stones are linked by red strings beside a small shrine at Kuzuharaoka Shrine — Visitors tie five-yen coins with red string between the Enmusubi Stones when praying for good relationships

After exploring the central shrine area, visitors should follow the signs south toward Hino Toshimoto’s grave. Its separate position means it can be missed by anyone who turns back immediately after visiting the main worship area. Seeing the grave completes the physical progression through the site and connects the shrine rituals with the history explained in the preceding section.

A Practical Break Along the Trail

Kuzuharaoka Shrine is one of the most convenient places to pause while walking the Daibutsu Hiking Course. Plenty of benches around the grounds provide space to sit, have a snack, and enjoy the surrounding area before continuing toward Hase. The shrine visit, historical features, and rest facilities make the stop useful without requiring hikers to leave the main route.

A stone path lined with lanterns leads toward the main shrine at Kuzuharaoka Shrine in winter — The lantern-lined approach to the main shrine in January

A vending machine stands beside the shrine office, where visitors can receive goshuin and obtain ema, amulets, and fortunes during operating hours. Public toilets are also available in neighboring Genjiyama Park. Hikers should still carry water and a small snack, particularly during warmer months, because facilities remain limited along the wooded sections of the course.

The shrine office, vending machine, and information boards stand beneath trees at Kuzuharaoka Shrine — The shrine office provides goshuin, omamori, and other devotional items

Beyond Kuzuharaoka, the course continues across natural woodland terrain with moderate climbs, downhill sections, exposed roots, rocks, and steps. The route is well maintained and marked, although the surface can become muddy or slippery after rain. Taking a short break at the shrine makes it easier to enjoy the remaining walk before the trail descends into Hase.

Red lanterns line the wooded road leaving Kuzuharaoka Shrine in winter — Red lanterns line the road leaving Kuzuharaoka Shrine around the new year

How Kuzuharaoka Fits into a Wider Kamakura Day

Kuzuharaoka Shrine fits naturally near the middle of a one-way Kamakura day beginning in Kita-Kamakura and finishing in Hase. After visiting Jōchi-ji, travelers can enter the Daibutsu Hiking Course, stop at Kuzuharaoka Shrine, and continue through the wooded hills toward Kōtoku-in and the Great Buddha. This creates a continuous route across western Kamakura without returning to Kita-Kamakura or passing through the city center.

Bare winter branches frame a view across the Kamakura hills from near Kuzuharaoka Shrine — A winter view across the Kamakura hills from the edge of Genjiyama Park

Kuzuharaoka also presents an important route choice. Visitors can explore Genjiyama Park and descend toward Zeniarai Benzaiten and Sasuke Inari Shrine, or remain on the Daibutsu Hiking Course and preserve more time for Hase. Adding the two shrine detours creates a broader western Kamakura walking route, while the direct trail works better when the Great Buddha and Hase temples are the main priorities.

After Kōtoku-in, Hase-dera is the most natural major continuation and can be reached through the Hase district. With additional time, visitors can add a smaller nearby stop such as Kōsoku-ji Temple or Goryō-jinja Shrine, or continue toward Yuigahama Beach before returning to Hase Station. Visitors hoping to cover several Hase attractions should begin the hiking route early and keep the Genjiyama detours limited so they reach the temples before final admission.

Getting There

Kuzuharaoka Shrine is most naturally reached on foot as part of the Daibutsu Hiking Course. From Kita-Kamakura Station, visitors walk past Jōchi-ji before entering the wooded trail toward Kuzuharaoka. The approximately 30-minute approach includes uphill sections and natural trail surfaces, with the shrine providing the first major stopping point before the course continues toward Hase.

A stone path and torii mark the winter approach from the Daibutsu Hiking Course to Kuzuharaoka Shrine — The winter approach to Kuzuharaoka Shrine from the Daibutsu Hiking Course

The alternative approach begins at the west exit of JR Kamakura Station and takes approximately 35 minutes. This route climbs through the residential hills near Zeniarai Benzaiten and Genjiyama Park, avoiding most of the hiking-trail terrain but still requiring a sustained uphill walk. There is no bus stop beside the shrine, so the final approach must be completed on foot.

A Genjiyama Hiking Course map stands beside Kuzuharaoka Shrine in Kamakura — The map is labeled Genjiyama Hiking Course and shows routes through the hills west of central Kamakura

Six free parking spaces are available near the shrine, although the surrounding access roads are narrow. Vehicle restrictions can apply on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and Days of the Snake, or mi no hi. Walking from Kita-Kamakura or central Kamakura remains the most dependable way to reach the shrine.