Kamakura near Tokyo used to be the capital of Japan for a significant number of years (before Tokyo became the capital).
Before the Kamakura era (1185-1333), the emperor of Japan and the government were both in Kyoto. During the Kamakura era, the Emperor remained in Kyoto but the government was in Kamakura. That's only long after the Kamakura era that Tokyo (at that time named "Edo") became the capital of Japan.
From the Kamakura era remain a lot of superb temples as well as a huge seating Budha near the ocean.