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How to Say ‘I went to Kamakura’ in Japanese

鎌倉へ行きました

kamakura e iki mashi ta

[kah-mah-KOO-rah eh ee-KEE mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: When へ marks a destination it's said (e), not (he). に works here too: 鎌倉に行きました.

Phrase Breakdown

鎌倉へ

kamakura e

To Kamakura

鎌倉 (Kamakura) is a historic city near Tokyo. The direction particle へ is read 'e', not 'he'.

Example

明日、鎌倉へ行きます。

I'll go to Kamakura tomorrow.

Words in this phrase

鎌倉

kamakura

[kah-mah-KOO-rah]

Kamakura

A seaside city south of Tokyo, famous for its giant Buddha statue and temples.

Example

鎌倉で大仏を見ました。

I saw the Great Buddha in Kamakura.

へ

[eh]

to; toward

Direction/target particle. 旗へ = “toward the flag.”

Example

旗への攻撃の意味が重すぎる。

The meaning of an attack on the flag is too serious.

行きました

iki mashi ta

Went

This is the polite past of 行く (iku, to go). The final 'ta' is said clearly: i-ki-ma-shi-ta.

Example

昨日、学校へ行きました。

I went to school yesterday.

Words in this phrase

行き

iki

[ee-KEE]

go (stem)

Stem form of 行く 'to go', used before ます.

Example

店に行きます。

I go to the restaurant.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past stem

Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.

Example

昨日は多くのことを学びました。

I learned many things yesterday.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございました。

There were vacant seats.

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