Wakaejima Island
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Teruji Hagiwara
This is the nation's oldest artificial island harbor off the coast of Zaimokuza. The Zaimokuza coast was a major gateway to Kamakura for merchant ships coming from the other parts of Japan. However, the shore was shallow to a considerable distance, which was inconvenient for loading cargoes and was also a danger to navigation. To solve these problems, this island harbor was constructed by a Buddhist priest (Kanjin-shounin-ou-amidabutsu) with financial support from Hojo Yasutoki during the Kamakura era. The island is now accessible to tourists via the rock platform when the tide is low.