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Kamakura's Seven Passes Complete Guide: Walking the Shogunate's Defense Network and Pilgrimage Roads
A complete guide to the seven mountain passes (kiridoshi) that protected Kamakura, the shogunate's natural fortress surrounded on three sides by hills. Covers Asahina-Kiridoshi, Kamegayatsu, Kenchoji, Jochiji, Hasedera, Sasuke Inari, and Zeniarai Benzaiten — with comparison table, walking difficulty levels, and historical context.
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Author
Hijiri
| Shrines & Temples
Contents
MOKUJI
一
What Are the Kamakura Nanatakuchi? — The Shogunate's Defensive Geography and the Role of the Passes
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二
Key Kiridoshi — History and Walking Guidance
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三
Kiridoshi and Nearby Temples and Shrines — Combined Routes
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四
Choosing a Kiridoshi Route — Comparing Difficulty, Time, and Highlights
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五
Frequently Asked Questions
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Kamakura was a natural fortress — surrounded on three sides by hills (the Inamuragasaki, Daibutsu, and Rokukunimi ridge systems) with Kamakura Bay to the south, this terrain provided the shogunate with a near-impregnable defensive base for over a century. The seven passes (kiridoshi) were the “only land entrances and exits” — simultaneously pilgrimage roads for samurai and defensive military lines.
Asahina Pass, Kamakura side entrance — the medieval rock-cut road survives intact
Tarourashima / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
What Are the Kamakura Nanatakuchi? — The Shogunate’s Defensive Geography and the Role of the Passes
“Kiridoshi” (切通し) are passes cut artificially through mountain ridgelines. The Kamakura shogunate maintained and controlled seven major kiridoshi to maximize the terrain’s defensive value.
Why Is Kamakura Called a “Natural Fortress”?
Surrounded by hills to the north, west, and east, with Sagami Bay to the south, Kamakura’s topography was ideal for defense. Without passing through one of the kiridoshi, it was impossible to cross the hills; placing troops at each pass could stop a large army’s advance. When Nitta Yoshisada’s forces attacked Kamakura in 1333, fierce battles at the kiridoshi are documented in the historical record.
Where Are the Seven Passes?
The location and character of each of the seven passes:
Pass Name
Location Today
Difficulty
Characteristics
Asahina Kiridoshi
Kamakura Junisho–Yokohama Kanazawa
Best-preserved Kamakura-period road
Kamegayatsu Kiridoshi
Kamakura Yamanouchi
Route from Kita-Kamakura to city center
Kobukurozaka Kiridoshi
Kamakura Yamanouchi
Along Kenchoji approach (partly lost)
Gokurakuji Kiridoshi
Kamakura Gokurakuji–Sakanoshita
Near Enoden Gokurakuji Station
Daibutsu Kiridoshi
Kamakura Tokiwa–Fukasawa
Route toward Hasedera/Great Buddha
Kewai-zaka Kiridoshi
Kamakura Ogigayatsu–Genji-yama
Shortcut to Zeniarai Benzaiten
Nagoe Kiridoshi
Kamakura Zaimokuza–Zushi City
Mandara-do yagura cluster visible
Daibutsu Pass — the best-preserved of the seven, a deep channel through bamboo forest
Ktmchi / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Key Kiridoshi — History and Walking Guidance
Among the seven passes, the most historically significant and currently walkable kiridoshi are explained in detail.
Asahina Kiridoshi — Best Preserved
Asahina Kiridoshi (said to date from around 1241) is the best-preserved kiridoshi, retaining the atmosphere of a Kamakura-period mountain road most authentically. The approximately 1-km route from Kamakura’s Junisho area to Rokkura in Yokohama’s Kanazawa district features rock-cut steep slopes, stone Buddhas, and natural springs at various points. Designated a National Historic Site. Round trip: approximately 2–3 hours.
Kamegayatsu Kiridoshi — Kita-Kamakura to City Center
Kamegayatsu Kiridoshi connects Kita-Kamakura with central Kamakura (Ogigayatsu area). Its name is said to derive from the legend that even turtles (kame) could not climb the slope and turned back. Now partly paved, but the atmosphere of the rock-cut steep path remains. Walking this route after visiting Kenchoji or Jochiji gives a three-dimensional understanding of Kamakura’s defensive geography.
Kewai-zaka Kiridoshi — The Path to Zeniarai Benzaiten
Kewai-zaka is thought to have been in use from the late Heian to early Kamakura period. It is used as an access route to Zeniarai Benzaiten (Ugafuku Shrine) and Sasuke Inari Shrine, and involves climbing some steep rocky sections. Its name reportedly derives from the legend that the heads of fallen Taira clan warriors were “made up” (kewai = cosmetics) here after the Genpei War.
Kewaizaka Pass — the steep dirt slope where Nitta Yoshisada's forces breached Kamakura's defenses in 1333
Fred Cherrygarden / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Kiridoshi and Nearby Temples and Shrines — Combined Routes
Combining kiridoshi walks with visits to nearby temples and shrines deepens the historical experience of Kamakura.
Combining Kenchoji and Jochiji with Kobukurozaka and Kamegayatsu-zaka
Kenchoji (Gozan Rank 1) and Jochiji (Gozan Rank 4) are Zen temples in Kita-Kamakura, adjacent to the Kamegayatsu and Kobukurozaka kiridoshi. The popular route of visiting Kenchoji then walking Kamegayatsu-zaka into Ogigayatsu lets you experience both Kamakura’s defensive geography and its Zen culture in a single outing.
Combining Hasedera, Zeniarai Benzaiten, and Sasuke Inari with Gokurakuji and Kewai-zaka
Hasedera (famous for its eleven-faced Kannon) is near Gokurakuji Kiridoshi. The popular route approaches Zeniarai Benzaiten and Sasuke Inari via the Kewai-zaka direction, passing through Genji-yama Park. You can visit both Zeniarai Benzaiten (with its unique tradition of washing money to multiply it) and Sasuke Inari (associated with Yoritomo) in the same day.
Kamegayatsu Pass, Kamakura side — a gentle slope used as a pilgrimage route to Jochiji
Tarourashima / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Choosing a Kiridoshi Route — Comparing Difficulty, Time, and Highlights
A practical reference for selecting among the seven kiridoshi.
Routes by Difficulty Level
Category
Recommended Pass
Time Required
Characteristics
Beginner
Gokurakuji, Kobukurozaka
30 min–1 hr
Paved; gentle gradient
Intermediate
Kamegayatsu, Kewai-zaka, Nagoe
1–2 hrs
Partly unpaved; some steep sections
Advanced
Asahina, Daibutsu
2–4 hrs
Unpaved; rocky; steep faces
Access and Walking Tips for Asahina Kiridoshi
The nearest bus stop for Asahina Kiridoshi is “Junisho Jinja-mae” (approx. 15 min by bus from Kamakura Station east exit). The standard approach is a 1-km outbound walk from the kiridoshi entrance toward Rokkura (Yokohama), then retracing your steps. Walkable in sneakers but trekking shoes are recommended; particularly slippery after rain.
General Visit Tips
•
Avoid hiking Asahina and Daibutsu kiridoshi alone; go in groups of two or more
•
Kewai-zaka is especially slippery after rain; avoid within 24 hours of rainfall
•
Kamegayatsu-zaka is ideal as part of a loop from Kita-Kamakura via Kenchoji through to central Kamakura on foot
•
Jochiji precinct connects almost directly to Kamegayatsu Kiridoshi
Nagoe Pass viewed from the Zushi side — the ancient road to Miura Peninsula, lined with yagura cliff tombs
Ootahara / CC0 1.0 Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions
What Exactly Are the Kamakura Nanatakuchi Kiridoshi?
Seven mountain passes artificially cut through ridgelines to serve as “the only land entrances and exits” of Kamakura, surrounded on three sides by hills. They functioned both as military defensive lines and as pilgrimage roads for samurai during the Kamakura period. Some are now designated National Historic Sites and historic parks, popular as historical trekking routes.
How Walkable Is Asahina Kiridoshi?
Asahina Kiridoshi is the best-preserved of the seven and most genuinely evokes the atmosphere of a Kamakura-period road. The unpaved mountain path includes rock-cut steep sections and areas where spring water flows across the trail. Walkable in sneakers but trekking shoes are advisable; particular care needed after rain. Round trip takes approximately 2–3 hours.
What Does “Washing Money” at Zeniarai Benzaiten Mean?
At Zeniarai Benzaiten (Ugafuku Shrine), there is a tradition that money washed in the spring water flowing from a cave in the precinct will multiply and return to you. The legend traces this to Minamoto no Yoritomo discovering the spring following a divine revelation in a dream. Today many worshippers still place banknotes and coins in bamboo baskets and wash them in the spring.
What Is the Connection Between Nitta Yoshisada’s Attack on Kamakura and the Kiridoshi?
In 1333, when Nitta Yoshisada attacked Kamakura in response to Emperor Go-Daigo’s call, the seven kiridoshi became the front lines. The shogunate’s forces fought fiercely to defend each pass, but when Yoshisada’s forces broke through by taking a coastal route around Inamuragasaki — bypassing the kiridoshi entirely — the defensive perimeter collapsed and the Kamakura shogunate fell. The kiridoshi functioned as the shogunate’s fortresses to its final day.
How Do I Get from Jochiji to Kamegayatsu Kiridoshi?
From Jochiji’s main gate, walk back slightly toward Kita-Kamakura Station and follow signs toward Kamegayatsu Kiridoshi. About 10–15 minutes on paved road brings you to the kiridoshi entrance. Crossing Kamegayatsu-zaka brings you into central Kamakura (Ogigayatsu), where Jufukuji (Kamakura Gozan Rank 3) is within easy walking distance.
Last updated: April 25, 2026
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Author
Hijiri（ひじり）
Shrines & Temples
Toku editorial team — shrines and temples. Former designer who reads temple architecture and gardens through an aesthetic lens, quietly tracing the lineages of sects and doctrines.
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Visit Related Places
History truly comes alive when you visit in person. Choose your next destination from the related sites and pilgrimage courses below.
1. Asahina Kiridoshi Pass
The steepest of the Seven Passes — carved by Hojo Yasutoki in 1241, now a National Historic Site
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2. Kamegayatsu-zaka Kiridoshi
One of Kamakura's Seven Passes — so steep 'even turtles turn back,' a nationally designated medieval cutting
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3. Kenchoji
Japan's first full-scale Zen training monastery, founded 1253 by Tokiyori — head of Kamakura's Five Mountains
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4. Jochiji
Founded by Hojo Tokimune to mourn his brother — Kamakura's 4th Zen temple, enshrining Hotei in a quiet valley
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5. Hasedera
Japan's largest wooden Kannon (9.18m) — Bando Pilgrimage Station 4, famed for hydrangeas and ocean views
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6. Sasuke Inari Shrine
Enshrining the Inari deity who aided Yoritomo's rise — 50 vermillion torii gates line this mysterious forest shrine
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7. Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine
Founded in 1185 by Yoritomo following a divine dream on the Day of the Snake. Regent Tokiyori's coin-washing ritual for clan prosperity gave the shrine its name — Kamakura's foremost shrine for financial fortune
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8. Koshoji
A Ji-sect temple whose 'Kurusu-mon' gate bears a cross — evidence of hidden Christian faith under Edo persecution
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