KAMAKURA, JAPAN
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Committee Chairs: Celeste Wilson and Mina Johnson
If you would like to get involved with Kamakura, please reach out to our co-chairs: Celeste Wilson (email) and Mina Johnson (email)
Located approximately 30 miles southwest of Tokyo in Kanagawa, Kamakura is a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to Tokyo, its beaches and its many historic shrines and temples.
Sister Cities of Nashville established its Japan Committee in 2009, with the support of the Consul General of Japan’s office in Nashville, who was keen for Nashville to have a sister city in Japan. The Nashville area is home to more than 8,000 Japanese citizens and 300 businesses, including Bridgestone-Americas and Nissan. One of the few Consulate General of Japan offices in the U.S. is located in Nashville, signaling the importance of our city to the Japanese.
A civic delegation made its first visit to Kamakura in the fall of 2009. In 2010, Sister Cities of Nashville established its annual Cherry Blossom Walk to highlight the special partnership among SCN, the Consul General of Japan’s office and The Japan-America Society of Tennessee (JAST) to celebrate Nashville-Japanese relations and to establish a sister city in Japan. The Cherry Blossom Walk precedes the Cherry Blossom Festival started by the Consul General of Japan’s office and JAST.
In October 2011, the first musician exchange took place, with Nashville sending Grammy-award winning bluegrass artist Alison Brown and her quartet to perform in Kamakura with more. Since then, several Nashvillians have visited Kamakura, and citizens from Kamakura have come to Nashville. One of Japan’s most famous biwa musicians even performed at the 2013 Cherry Blossom festival!
In September 2014, a delegation of over 20 representatives from Nashville’s city government, the business sector, and the arts and cultural sectors visited Kamakura. Tennessee’s Office of Economic and Community Development also was present as well. There, our two cities’ mayors, The Hon. Karl Dean and The Hon. Matsuo signed the formal Friendship City agreement. It was a festive affair as the Kamakura hosts provided an array of traditional Japanese entertainment as well as a splendid banquet for the guests from Nashville.
In October 2014, Mayor Matsuo visited Nashville with a delegation from Kamakura. They enjoyed the Grand Ole Opry, and visits to such traditional Nashville spots as the Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Standard, and, of course, the honky tonks!
The relationship continues in full swing, as students from Harpeth Hall visited Kamakura in January 2015; Nashvillians traveled to Kamakura in September 2015 to celebrate the first anniversary of the twinning; musicians from Kamakura have visited Nashville annually; (including performing at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival); and many personal friendships have formed between Nashvillians and citizens from Kamakura.
Most recently 23 Sister Cities members, including Mayor Briley, two Supreme Court justices, and two Metro Council members, traveled to Kamakura in October 2018. There they met in the office of Mayor Matsuo, allowing our two mayors to become new friends. The group also was hosted by the Kamakura-Nashville Friendship Association through tours of Kamakura, with wonderful Japanese cuisine, and concluding with a celebratory dinner toasting the relationship.
Our friends in Kamakura enjoy all Nashville visitors, whether they be large groups or individuals, and we look forward to welcoming our Kamakura friends here in the months and years to come. Please let us know if you plan to visit so Kamakura can prepare to welcome you! If you have an idea for a tour, we would be happy to work with you.
Kamakura Facts:
City population: 174,412
Area: 15.28 square miles
Country population: 127,300,000
Region: Kanto
Mayor: Mayor Takashi Matsuo
Attractions:
Enoden
Genjiyama Park
Hasedera Temple
Hokokuji Temple (Takedera Temple)
Kamakura Hiking Trails
Kamakura Seaside Park Yuigahama Area
Kamakura Museum of Literature
Kanagawa Prefectural Ofuna Botanical Garden
Kotokuin (Great Buddha of Kamakura)
Koshigoe Fishing Port
Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama
Shichirigahama Beach
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Tenen Hiking trail
Related Links:
https://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/visitkamakura/en/.
View Map
If you would like to get involved with Kamakura, please reach out to our co-chairs: Celeste Wilson (email) and Mina Johnson (email)
Located approximately 30 miles southwest of Tokyo in Kanagawa, Kamakura is a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to Tokyo, its beaches and its many historic shrines and temples.
Sister Cities of Nashville established its Japan Committee in 2009, with the support of the Consul General of Japan’s office in Nashville, who was keen for Nashville to have a sister city in Japan. The Nashville area is home to more than 8,000 Japanese citizens and 300 businesses, including Bridgestone-Americas and Nissan. One of the few Consulate General of Japan offices in the U.S. is located in Nashville, signaling the importance of our city to the Japanese.
A civic delegation made its first visit to Kamakura in the fall of 2009. In 2010, Sister Cities of Nashville established its annual Cherry Blossom Walk to highlight the special partnership among SCN, the Consul General of Japan’s office and The Japan-America Society of Tennessee (JAST) to celebrate Nashville-Japanese relations and to establish a sister city in Japan. The Cherry Blossom Walk precedes the Cherry Blossom Festival started by the Consul General of Japan’s office and JAST.
In October 2011, the first musician exchange took place, with Nashville sending Grammy-award winning bluegrass artist Alison Brown and her quartet to perform in Kamakura with more. Since then, several Nashvillians have visited Kamakura, and citizens from Kamakura have come to Nashville. One of Japan’s most famous biwa musicians even performed at the 2013 Cherry Blossom festival!
In September 2014, a delegation of over 20 representatives from Nashville’s city government, the business sector, and the arts and cultural sectors visited Kamakura. Tennessee’s Office of Economic and Community Development also was present as well. There, our two cities’ mayors, The Hon. Karl Dean and The Hon. Matsuo signed the formal Friendship City agreement. It was a festive affair as the Kamakura hosts provided an array of traditional Japanese entertainment as well as a splendid banquet for the guests from Nashville.
In October 2014, Mayor Matsuo visited Nashville with a delegation from Kamakura. They enjoyed the Grand Ole Opry, and visits to such traditional Nashville spots as the Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Standard, and, of course, the honky tonks!
The relationship continues in full swing, as students from Harpeth Hall visited Kamakura in January 2015; Nashvillians traveled to Kamakura in September 2015 to celebrate the first anniversary of the twinning; musicians from Kamakura have visited Nashville annually; (including performing at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival); and many personal friendships have formed between Nashvillians and citizens from Kamakura.
Most recently 23 Sister Cities members, including Mayor Briley, two Supreme Court justices, and two Metro Council members, traveled to Kamakura in October 2018. There they met in the office of Mayor Matsuo, allowing our two mayors to become new friends. The group also was hosted by the Kamakura-Nashville Friendship Association through tours of Kamakura, with wonderful Japanese cuisine, and concluding with a celebratory dinner toasting the relationship.
Our friends in Kamakura enjoy all Nashville visitors, whether they be large groups or individuals, and we look forward to welcoming our Kamakura friends here in the months and years to come. Please let us know if you plan to visit so Kamakura can prepare to welcome you! If you have an idea for a tour, we would be happy to work with you.
Kamakura Facts:
City population: 174,412
Area: 15.28 square miles
Country population: 127,300,000
Region: Kanto
Mayor: Mayor Takashi Matsuo
Attractions:
Enoden
Genjiyama Park
Hasedera Temple
Hokokuji Temple (Takedera Temple)
Kamakura Hiking Trails
Kamakura Seaside Park Yuigahama Area
Kamakura Museum of Literature
Kanagawa Prefectural Ofuna Botanical Garden
Kotokuin (Great Buddha of Kamakura)
Koshigoe Fishing Port
Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama
Shichirigahama Beach
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Tenen Hiking trail
Related Links:
https://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/visitkamakura/en/.
View Map