Step into the timeless beauty of Kamakura’s historic temples and immerse yourself in an extraordinary celebration of Japanese artistry
In ancient Japan, temples were not only places of prayer but also centers of artistic creation—where music, painting, calligraphy, and architecture were paths to spiritual discovery. Artists, monks, and patrons worked in harmony, guided by beauty and impermanence.
The Kamakura Festival revives this spirit. Through concerts in cedar-scented halls and art nestled in moss-lined courtyards, we invite you into a space where art whispers, music lingers, and time slows. Here, Kamakura is not just a setting—it is a co-creator. Amid stillness and history, each moment becomes a quiet chance to reflect, feel, and remember.
This is more than a festival. It is a return—to self, to silence, to the beauty of presence.
PROGRAM
25 oct.
Evening of Cello
and Kamakura-bori
in the hush of the bamboo grove
HOKOKU-JI TEMPLE I 17:00–20:00
Experience an exclusive evening in Kamakura’s iconic bamboo grove. Enjoy a solo cello concert, site-inspired artworks, and a candlelit cocktail beneath the trees—where Zen, music, and art meet in stillness.
28-30 oct.
Kamakura’s First Zen Monastery Dialogue of Performers and Mentors
KENCHO-JI TEMPLE I 10:00–16:00
Discover Zen through sound in Kamakura’s oldest Zen monastery. Over three days, music and meditation come together in masterclasses and concerts that echo centuries of spiritual practice.
02 nov.
Painting through sound:
A live dialogue
between Music and Art
KAKUON-JI TEMPLE I 13:00–18:00
Enjoy a multi-layered cultural afternoon featuring an art exhibition and gallery talk collaborative concert where pianist Ryutaro Suzuki performs works inspired by Mariko Miyashita’s paintings, and a cocktail party in the garden
31 oct.
An Evening
of Resonance
KAMAKURA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
18:00–21:00
Enjoy an unforgettable night of music at Kamakura’s premier venue with the France–Japan Virtuoso Showcase featuring Franck Braley, followed by a cocktail reception. Program includes Debussy, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky.
01 nov.
Trio in the forest:
An immersive day of Art, Music & Craft
KAKUON-JI TEMPLE I 13:00–18:00
Art, music, and conversation come together in a temple setting—featuring exhibitions of painting, calligraphy, Kamakura-bori, and ceramics, a trio concert by Suzuki, Braley, and Moreau, and a cocktail party in the garden.
覚園寺
KAKUON-JI
TEMPLE
A sacred retreat of prayer
and healing in the Kamakura hills
Founded in 1218 by the Yoshitok HOJO, the ruling regent, to honor Shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo, this historic mountain temple, dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, conveys centuries of prayers in serene, timeless surroundings.
Location: 421 Nikaidō, Kamakura, Kanagawa
建長寺
KENCHO-JI
TEMPLE
Founded in 1253 by Hojo Tokiyori, this is the head temple of the Kenchoji school of Rinzai Zen. With its solemn halls and serene atmosphere, it is a place where anyone who opens their heart can experience the refreshing spirit of Zen—a teaching that continues to live here.
Kamakura’s oldest Zen temple, ranked first among the Five Zen Temples
Location: 8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa
報国寺
HOKOKU-JI
TEMPLE
Kamakura’s Spiritual Landscape, Drifting Through the Bamboo Grove
Founded in 1334, this Rinzai Zen temple features a serene bamboo grove, moss-covered pathways, a stone garden, and ancient cave tombs. A space where nature, light, and silence create a sensory journey through Kamakura’s spiritual heritage.
Location: 2-7-4 Jōmyōji, Kamakura, Kanagawa
鎌倉芸術館
KAMAKURA
PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER
A major cultural venue located in northern Kamakura, the Kamakura Performing Arts Center is renowned for its exceptional acoustics, making it ideal for classical music performances. It hosts a wide variety of artistic events, including concerts, theater productions, and exhibitions.
A cultural hub of Kamakura built on the former site of the Shochiku Film Studio
Location: 6-chome-1-2 Ofuna, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0056, Japan
Kamakura’s quiet streets, forested slopes, and ancient stones become more than a backdrop—they become a co-creator of experience. In this stillness, participants are offered not only inspiration, but introspection. Each moment of encounter—with a sound, a brushstroke, a sacred space—is an opportunity to reconnect with one’s inner world.
We envision this festival becoming a beloved seasonal tradition—one that gently carves itself into the rhythm of the year like autumn wind through bamboo. A festival where people return not just to see, but to feel. Not just to witness, but to remember.
O3
Featured Artists
Contact
contact@artspacejapan.com
