Kamakura

The charming seaside town of Kamakura is one of the most popular outings from the capital. Located on Sagami Bay along the Shonan coast, it remains easily accessible by train 🚅 or by car 🚙 for a 1- to 2-day excursion from Tokyo, just 50 kilometers to the northeast.

The town is known for its traditional, Zen-like scenery, best discovered on foot, especially at Kotoku-in temple, home to the famous Great Buddha of Kamakura. You can combine your visit with the nearby island of Enoshima and enjoy the seafront, where a clear horizon reveals the majestic silhouette of Mount Fuji 🗻.

Here's our video introduction to Kamakura:

Best Times for a Visit Between Land and Sea

Despite the crowds that flock to this town covering barely 40km², Kamakura's nature feels lush and enveloping, making it a pleasant place to explore in the warmer months, from spring 🌸 through autumn 🍁. It's especially worth visiting:

• In June for the hydrangeas, when the humidity deepens the green of the vegetation;
• In July and August, to enjoy the beaches 🏖 of Yuigahama and Zaimokuza, both equipped and supervised for summer swimming;
• In November and into early December, for the fall colors and lighter weekday crowds.

On the other hand, foreign tourists are advised against visiting Kamakura in early May, during the Golden Week holidays, when it's often overrun by Japanese travelers on national vacation. This surge can lead to situations of overtourism. For a more efficient visit and deeper insight into the sites, it's worth hiring an English-speaking guide in Kamakura, particularly through the Keikaku agency.

There, most of the attractions are spread around the town's 3 main train stations:

• To the north, Kita-Kamakura Station overlooks the town and provides access to the largest and most beautiful Zen temples, tucked away in the wooded hills.
• Kamakura Station serves the lively daytime downtown area, home to the shopping streets and the town's grand Hachiman shrine.
• Hase Station, on the Enoden line (short for "Enoshima Dentetsu"), faces the sea at Kamakura's western edge and includes the destination's major tourist sites.

Either way, Kamakura is a must-see, offering a taste of traditional Japan that pairs nicely with a visit to Kyoto.

Former Capital of Japan and Zen Buddhism

Kamakura is one of the historic hearts of the traditional Kanto region, along with Nikko, and a destination that history buffs will especially enjoy.

Following the war between the Minamoto and Taira clans, Kamakura rose 🌹 to become the heart of medieval Japan. Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199), an exiled heir, settled there in the early 1180s and, after countless battles and having received the title of shogun, ruled from 1192 to 1199.

Read more:

Kamakura Period - The First Japanese Bakufu

He thus ushered in the Kamakura period (1185–1333), during which this small town served as Japan's shogunal capital. Afterward, it faded back into obscurity, but during its century and a half of prominence, it built up a rich religious heritage, both Shinto and Buddhist, becoming in particular a major center of Zen Buddhism.

The Must-Sees in Kamakura in 1 Day

The town, which still hopes to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, holds many historic treasures waiting to be discovered. Here's a selection of must-see spots for a 1-day visit to Kamakura, starting from the west:

• The Kotoku-in and Hase-dera temples, considered the most beautiful spiritual sites in Kamakura, the 1rst home to the large and iconic seated Buddha statue, the 2nd offering a panoramic view from its highest point;
• The Sasuke Inari-jinja and Zeniarai Benzaiten shrines, tucked into the hills of Hase, recommended for their rustic, charming, and offbeat character;
• Downtown Kamakura, with Komachi-dori Street and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, for a return to the lively town center and its main shopping and dining spots (specializing in fish and shirasu whitebait);
• The Yuigahama, Zaimokuza, and Shichirigahama beaches, perfect for a refreshing walk, especially at sunset.

Since admission to these tourist sites isn't overpriced, and some are even free, you can easily get through a day here on a very reasonable budget.

Note: since spring 2019, eating while walking has been banned in Kamakura.

Kamakura in 2 or 3 Days

Other wonderful sights in Kamakura are worth exploring if you're staying several days or coming back for a second trip, such as:

• In Kita-Kamakura, the Buddhist temples Kencho-ji, Meigetsu-in, and Engaku-ji;
• The hiking trails that wind through the forested hills above Kamakura, including the Daibutsu Trail, which conveniently connects the Jochi-ji and Kotoku-in temples;
• Hokoku-ji temple, known for its bamboo grove;
• The former Museum of Modern Art Kamakura, with its modernist architecture, now reborn as the Tsurugaoka Museum, home to sculptures by Isamu Noguchi as well as art objects from the Kamakura period and Cultural Properties belonging to Hachiman-gu Shrine;
• South of downtown, Komyo-ji temple, home to an observation deck overlooking Sagami Bay;
• Cape Inamuragasaki, for unobstructed views of Enoshima and Mount Fuji on a clear day; and,
• Kamakurakoko-mae Station, which has become a popular pilgrimage spot for fans of the Japanese anime Slam Dunk (recognizable from its opening credits).

Kamakura is also conveniently close to other tourist destinations that can easily be paired together for a long day trip or a 2- to 3-day regional itinerary, for example using the Odakyu passes. These include:

• Enoshima Island, a perfect match with Kamakura along the Enoden train line. From there, you can also visit the town of Fujisawa and its Nichiren Buddhist temple, Ryuko-ji, as well as the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium.
• The Miura Peninsula, located nearby along the coast, home to the more rural seaside towns of Zushi, Hayama, and Yokosuka.
• Yokohama, which can be a good stop in the evening on the way back to Tokyo, thanks to its Minato Mirai 21 waterfront district, packed with restaurants, bars, and shops to end a great day of sightseeing.
• Odawara, with its castle, makes for an interesting stopover between Kamakura and Hakone before continuing on to the Fuji Five Lakes region.
• The Izu Peninsula, a great nearby destination for onsen hot spring lovers, with the resort towns of Atami, Shuzenji, and Shimoda.

Kamakura remains a real favorite for most visitors, many of whom find themselves wanting to come back.