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The Great Buddha of Kamakura against a blue sky and green hills

Kamakura guide

A town between hills and sea that became the samurai capital in the late 12th century. The Great Buddha, Zen temples, the Enoden coast and Enoshima fit into one day. About 1 hour by train from Tokyo.

Things to see 10 classics

Classics 10 places

"Classics" and "Hidden gems" are this site's editorial picks, not a measured popularity ranking.

By interest
By how you get there
By distance
  • 1

    Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

    Kamakura's central shrine, tied to the shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo. It stands at the end of Wakamiya-oji, the avenue leading from the sea.

    • Temples, shrines & churches
    • History & buildings

    about 60 minFreePartly step-free

    Walk · About 12 min from Kamakura ・ 900m

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  • 2

    Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoku-in)

    A bronze Buddha about 11 meters tall, cast in the 13th century. It has no hall and sits in the open air.

    • Temples, shrines & churches
    • History & buildings

    about 30 minPaid entryWheelchair & stroller friendly

    Train · About 20 min from Kamakura ・ Enoden to Hase, then about 7 minutes on foot ・ 1.4km

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  • 3

    Hasedera Temple

    A temple housing a tall wooden statue of Kannon. The terrace looks over Yuigahama beach, and hydrangeas bloom in the rainy season.

    • Temples, shrines & churches
    • Views
    • Nature

    about 60 minPaid entry

    Train · About 15 min from Kamakura ・ Enoden to Hase, then about 5 minutes on foot ・ 1.8km

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  • 4

    Komachi Street

    A lively shopping street running from the station's east exit toward Hachimangu, lined with snack stalls and souvenir shops.

    • Food & markets
    • Shopping & strolling

    about 60 minFree

    Walk · About 2 min from Kamakura ・ 200m

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  • 5

    Enoshima Island

    A small island reached by a bridge, with Enoshima Shrine, a lighthouse observation tower and sea caves. Mt. Fuji shows on clear days.

    • Views
    • Temples, shrines & churches
    • Food & markets

    about 3 hrFree

    Train · About 45 min from Kamakura ・ Enoden to Enoshima, then about 20 minutes on foot ・ 6.7km

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  • 6

    Hokokuji Temple (bamboo garden)

    A Zen temple with a bamboo grove behind the main hall. You can drink matcha tea while looking out at the bamboo.

    • Nature
    • Temples, shrines & churches

    about 45 minPaid entry

    Bus · About 20 min from Kamakura ・ Bus from Kamakura Station East Exit to Jomyoji, then about 3 minutes on foot ・ 1.7km

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ClassicsHidden gems

Suggested routes

Times assume a 9:00 start. Travel times are estimated from distance and vary with waiting and crowds.

  • Komachi Street, Hachimangu, the Great Buddha and Hasedera

    Leave 9:00 → until about 13:26 (about 4.5 hr)

    1. 9:00Kamakura

    2. about 2 min on foot

      9:02Komachi Streetstay about 60 min

    3. about 12 min on foot

      10:14Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrinestay about 60 min

    4. about 15 min by transport

      11:29Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoku-in)stay about 30 min

    5. about 9 min on foot

      12:08Hasedera Templestay about 60 min

    6. about 3 min on foot

      13:11Goryo Shrinestay about 15 min

    Walk back to the station from Hachimangu and take the Enoden to Hase. Around Hase everything is on foot.

    Plan this route

  • Along the coast to Enoshima by Enoden

    Leave 9:00 → until about 13:35 (about 4.5 hr)

    1. 9:00Kamakura

    2. about 20 min by transport

      9:20Cape Inamuragasakistay about 30 min

    3. about 15 min by transport

      10:05Kamakurakokomae railway crossingstay about 15 min

    4. about 15 min by transport

      10:35Enoshima Islandstay about 3 hr

    A one-day Enoden pass is handy. Enoshima has many slopes and steps, so wear comfortable shoes.

    Plan this route

When to go

June hydrangeas are popular but rainy and crowded. July–August is beach season. Autumn colours last into early December, and winter is mild (about 6°C).

Point at a month to see its temperature and precipitation.

Temperature (line: average; band: low to high)

Precipitation (mm)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Typical seasons

Cherry blossoms (Dankazura)

Hydrangeas (Meigetsuin, Hasedera)

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Festival

Swimming (Yuigahama)

Autumn leaves (Hasedera)

Show as a table
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High (℃)10.811.414.218.522.424.928.230.327.622.717.813.2
Avg (℃)66.89.814.418.621.625.126.923.918.713.48.5
Low (℃)1.52.25.410.215.118.922.824.320.815.39.54.1
Rain (mm)60.861.1132.6134.4148.1171.9159.6120.6197.3191.197.763.7

Temperature and precipitation are Japan Meteorological Agency normals (1991–2020, Tsujido (Fujisawa)). Seasons are typical timings and can shift by a week or two each year. JMA data

Main ways to get around

  • Enoden (Enoshima Electric Railway)

    From Kamakura via Hase, Shichirigahama and Enoshima to Fujisawa, squeezing past houses and along the sea. Crowded on holidays, when you may queue to board. A one-day pass is sold.

  • JR Yokosuka Line

    About 1 hour direct from Tokyo Station to Kamakura. Kita-Kamakura, one stop before, is the gateway to Engakuji and Kenchoji temples.

  • Local buses (from Kamakura Station East Exit)

    For the Kanazawa-kaido road (Hokokuji and Sugimotodera temples) and toward the Great Buddha. The roads are narrow, and traffic delays buses on holidays.

  • Shonan Monorail

    About 14 minutes from Ofuna (JR) to Shonan-Enoshima. A way to reach Enoshima without passing through central Kamakura.

  • Odakyu Line (Katase-Enoshima)

    From Shinjuku via Fujisawa to Katase-Enoshima. Handy if you start your day at Enoshima. The Romancecar limited express is all-reserved.

Getting to Kamakura

“Classics” and “Hidden gems” are our editors' picks, not a measured popularity ranking. Travel times are estimates. Please check prices, opening hours and operating days with the official sources before you go.

Photo and data credits

The Great Buddha of Kamakura against a blue sky and green hills Suicasmo (CC BY-SA 4.0) / The vermilion main shrine of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu above its stone steps Ocdp (CC0) / The Great Buddha of Kamakura lumoplank (CC0) / The Kannon Hall of Hasedera under a blue sky 663highland (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Komachi Street at dusk with lit shopfronts Σ64 (CC BY 4.0) / Enoshima Island seen across the water Σ64 (CC BY 4.0) / A path through the bamboo grove of Hokokuji Temple KimonBerlin (CC BY-SA 2.0). Cropped and resized.

Local food

Regional dishes handed down in Kanagawa. Many are home and community cooking, so not every dish is served at restaurants.

See all regional dishes of Kanagawa (23)

“Find places serving it” opens a map app search for the dish name and the place name. The results are not chosen or recommended by this site. Please check with the shop whether it serves the dish.

Source: “Our Regional Cuisines” (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), edited by this site (imported 2026-11-15) https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/market/k_ryouri/index.html. Names, areas and ingredients are as written on the source pages; descriptions are excerpts of the original text. No photos are used. This page is not made or endorsed by the ministry.

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