Hidden beneath the unassuming lobby floor of the M's Ark building along bustling Wakamiya Avenue lies an extraordinary medieval archaeological site. Preserved directly in situ, these ruins once formed part of a sprawling palace estate belonging to the powerful Hōjō clan, the samurai regents who ruled Japan throughout the 13th century. Visitors can peer through transparent floor panels to examine ancient pillar pits, building foundations, artifact-laden disposal pits, and fragments of the original avenue. It provides an unexpected, free, and fascinating window into Kamakura's feudal golden age right beneath your feet.
- Archaeology
- Historic Ruins
- Samurai History
- Medieval Japan
- Hidden Gems
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