Kamakura! A World Heritage?

I've posted this photo in the past but this is the first time I am posting it with Photoshop edits. This was actually a New Year's card design and has/had text, which I took out for this post.

Well, the actual reason that I am posting this is because I heard something very exciting this morning just as I was about to walk out of my house and head for work. The city of Kamakura has invited UNESCO back to Japan in attempts to gain World Heritage status. I do not know the exact facts but from what I have heard, many times, Kamakura made the same attempts several times in the past, only to get refused by UNESCO each time.

The reasons for refusal by UNESCO would be interesting to know, as I do not see any reason why Kamakura is not a World Heritage yet (well maybe one). Just about all the historical structures that stand today are very very well maintained and are still open to the public to enter and explore. There are over 100 temples and shrines still standing today throughout the city. It's no Kyoto but Kamakura holds it's own. I would think that the great buddha and Hase shrine and Kenchoji temple in KitaKamakura could be great selling points. Although, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu gounds have history, the main temple structure has been rebuilt recently.

There is the one reason I see Kamakura getting refused by UNESCO again, as I don't know the facts they look at. And that would be the garbage left behind in the woods and bamboo forest areas in the back streets of the city. I'm not talking about litter from someone's home but rather, rotted out trees, wood from a torn down house, and the like. It's very visible and an eye-sore! And....it has ruined a lot of photo ops for me.

Regardless, I have my fingers crossed....and my toes too. I'm so excited and think it's better than the Olympics possibly coming back to Tokyo in 2016 or Tokyo Sky Tree (the new Tokyo tower) being built! Hopefully UNESCO sent their 'cool' crew to Kamakura and just maybe.....