Zaimokuza Beach

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Zaimokuza Beach and Wakae Island Commemorative Stele
Zaimokuza Beach and Wakae Island Commemorative Stele

Zaimokuza Beach (材木座海岸)is a beach near Kamakura, a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. At about the center of Kamakura's beach the Namerigawa (滑川:なめりがわ) river forms an estuary. The eastern half is called Zaimokuza Beach, the western Yuigahama Beach.

Kamakura first became a sea resort during the Meiji Era, and Natsume Soseki's Kokoro made it famous. Minamoto no Sanetomo, planning a voyage to China, allegedly had a big ship built here, but then couldn't sail it because of Sagami Bay's shallowness.

According to the Wakae Island Commemorative Stele on Zaimokuza Beach (see photo), the first name of today's Zaimokuza was Waka (和賀). The present name, which can be translated in this case as "lumber trade organization", derives from the name of one of the seven local trade unions which existed here during the Kamakura period.

During the Meiji Era only the area along the beach was called Zaimokuza, while the part towards the interior was called Midarebashi (乱橋:みだればし), but later the two parts fused and assumed the present name.

Toward the east is visible the island of Enoshima, near Fujisawa.

At the west end of the beach, when the tide is low are visible the remains of Wakae Island, the oldest artificial island in the country and a former harbor. Zaimokuza during the Kamakura period was in fact a busy port of call for the commerce of lumber.


[edit] Historical landmarks

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