When Emperors Reigned and Shoguns Ruled

Created by Peter Oxley and Virgil Calaguian, fellow artists, photographers, and writers, SAMURAI PHOTOTOURS take you to Kamakura's four main tourist sites, with focus on the history and heritage of the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), which saw the introduction of the shogunate, Japan's native form of government that lasted until 1868; the flowering of the samurai tradition with its strict code of bravery, honor, and loyalty; and the rise of rigidly disciplined Zen Buddhism as a religious as well as political force.

Throughout this unique tour, open to people of all ages, from single travelers to groups of up to eight persons, your multilingual and multicultural guide shares with you an extraordinary wealth of knowledge of Japanese history and culture, placed in the context of concurrent Asian and European affairs, in a way that is both entertaining and enlightening.

All that plus a stroll down Kamakura's main tourist hub for a lively look at colorful contemporary Japanese culture.