Kamakura, Japan: travel guide
A medieval shogunate capital (1185–1333) clinging to sea-cliffs above the Pacific. Kamakura's Great Buddha, 65 Zen temples, and carved mountain trails make it the perfect cultural day trip from Tokyo.
- Country
- Japan
- Currency
- JPY
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Nearest airport
- HND
Top places to visit in Kamakura
Kotoku-in Great Buddha (Kamakura Daibutsu)
Temple · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · entry JPY 300
The open-air bronze Great Buddha of Kamakura — 11.3 metres tall, weighing 93 tonnes — has sat in serene meditation since 1252. Originally housed in a great wooden hall that was destroyed by storms and tsunamis in the 15th century, the…
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
The spiritual heart of Kamakura, founded in 1063 and rebuilt in its current form in 1191 by the first shogun Minamoto Yoritomo. The broad Wakamiya-oji Avenue (lined with 3,000 peonies in spring) leads from the sea to the shrine's stone…
Enoshima Island
Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 3 h
A 4 km² island 9 km west of Kamakura, connected to the mainland by a 600-metre causeway. Enoshima Shrine's three buildings enshrine three sea-goddess sisters, and the Iwaya Caves at the island's far tip are where the hermit monk Mongaku…
Zen Temple Circuit — Engaku-ji & Kencho-ji
Temple · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry JPY 500
Kamakura was medieval Japan's Zen capital, and the Five Great Zen Temples (Gozan) remain its spiritual backbone. Engaku-ji (founded 1282) contains Japan's largest bronze temple bell (1301, National Treasure) within a mountainside compound…
Hase-dera Temple
Temple · about 1.3 h · entry JPY 400
Hillside temple with a 9 m gilded Kannon statue, hydrangea paths and sweeping views over Sagami Bay.
Hokoku-ji (Bamboo Temple)
Temple · about 1 h · entry JPY 400
Zen temple famous for its serene grove of ~2,000 moso bamboo with a matcha teahouse.
Komachi-dori Street
Market · about 1 h
Bustling shopping street from Kamakura Station to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, lined with snacks, crafts and souvenirs.
Zeniarai Benten Shrine
Temple · about 0.8 h
Cave shrine where visitors wash coins in a spring believed to multiply the money.
Meigetsu-in (Hydrangea Temple)
Temple · about 0.8 h · entry JPY 500
Zen temple renowned for June hydrangeas and a round "window of enlightenment" framing the garden.
Yuigahama Beach
Beach · about 1.5 h
Wide sandy beach south of central Kamakura, popular in summer for swimming and sunsets.
Kamakurakokomae Crossing
Viewpoint · about 0.5 h
Seaside Enoden railway crossing beside Kamakura High School, famous worldwide from the anime Slam Dunk.
Things to do
- Great Buddha & Enoden Walking Tour Tour · 4 h · from JPY 6,000 per person
- Zen Meditation at Engaku-ji Experience · 1.5 h · from JPY 2,000 per person
- Kamakura Kimono Rental Experience · 8 h · from JPY 4,500 per person
Where to stay in Kamakura
Hotels
- Kamakura Prince Hotel 4-star · JPY 22,000 to JPY 50,000 per night
- WeBase Kamakura 3-star · JPY 4,000 to JPY 16,000 per night
- Kamakura Park Hotel 4-star · JPY 22,000 to JPY 45,000 per night
Where to eat
- Miyokawa Japanese, Seafood · about JPY 1,500 per person
- Bergfeld Bakery, Cafe, German · about JPY 1,200 per person
- Matsubara-an Soba, Japanese · about JPY 2,500 per person
- Good Mellows Burgers, American · about JPY 2,000 per person
- Amalfi Della Sera Italian, Western · about JPY 3,500 per person
- Toshimaya Honten Sweets, Cafe · about JPY 800 per person
Getting around
- Bicycle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Train main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.