The park was established to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Kamakura Shogunate.
The central statue of Minamoto no Yoritomo was erected in 1980 to mark the shogunate's anniversary.
The park serves as a central junction for the Daibutsu Hiking Course, which links the Kotoku-in temple area to the park.
Geologically, the area consists of soft volcanic tuff, which has allowed for the creation of ancient caves and tunnels in the surrounding hillsides.
The park area was historically used as a defensive perimeter for the city of Kamakura during the 12th century.
Genjiyama Park is a ridge-top public park located in the hills above Kamakura, historically associated with Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura Shogunate. The site features a prominent bronze statue of Yoritomo and serves as a natural transition point for multiple popular hiking trails connecting the city center to surrounding temples. The park layout consists of terraced woodland areas, open grassy spaces, and seasonal flower gardens, particularly noted for cherry blossoms in the spring and hydrangeas in the early summer. Because of its elevated position, the park provides views overlooking the northern parts of Kamakura. The terrain is largely forested, requiring visitors to navigate earthen trails to access the main plaza area. It is widely utilized as a rest stop for hikers traversing the trail between Zeniarai Benzaiten and the Kita-Kamakura temple district.
The plaza surrounding the bronze statue of Minamoto no Yoritomo provides the most iconic wide-angle perspective.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes as the approach trails feature uneven, dirt-packed, and potentially muddy terrain.
Bring insect repellent during the summer months, as the dense forest cover provides a habitat for mosquitoes.
Carry sufficient water and snacks, as there are no food vendors located within the park boundaries.
Attempting to reach the park in standard footwear like sandals or heels; relying on mobile GPS navigation which often fails under thick canopy cover.
Practice 'pack-in, pack-out' waste disposal, as there are no public trash cans; stay on marked trails to prevent erosion.
