Things to do in Kamakura: top sights and where to go
Kamakura, the old shoguns' capital an hour from Tokyo, puts Komachi-dori and Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine ten minutes' walk from the station, and the Great Buddha and Hase-dera five minutes away on the little Enoden train. Do the centre, the Buddha and Hase-dera on day one; keep the Zen temples of Kita-Kamakura, the Hōkoku-ji bamboo grove and Enoshima island for a second day.
Sights
Kamakura itineraries
Kamakura travel guide
Before you go: the Great Buddha, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Hokoku-ji’s bamboo grove, Enoshima island, getting there from Tokyo, weather.
Kamakura on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 1 day from Tokyo, 2 with Enoshima
- When to go
- April–June and October–November
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — many are visa-exempt
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY); temples take cash
- From Tokyo
- ≈ 1 h on the JR Yokosuka line
- Enoden
- Vintage tram to the Buddha, Hase-dera and Enoshima
- On foot
- North Kamakura temples lie between stations
- Hydrangeas
- June — peak bloom at Hase-dera
- Weekends
- Saturdays and Sundays are very busy
- Time zone
- UTC+9 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Kamakura”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Kamakura Daibutsu”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Five Mountain System”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Tsurugaoka Hachimangū”Things to do in Kamakura
The top things to do in Kamakura are the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in and nearby Hase-dera with its sea view, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and Komachi-dori, the bamboo grove at Hokoku-ji, the Zeniarai Benzaiten and Sasuke Inari shrines, the Zen temples of Kencho-ji and Engaku-ji in North Kamakura, and Enoshima island. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Hase | Great Buddha, Hase-dera | 2 h |
|---|---|---|
| Centre | Tsurugaoka, Komachi-dori | 2 h |
| Western hills | Zeniarai, Sasuke Inari | 1.5 h |
| East | Hokoku-ji | 1 h |
| North Kamakura | Engaku-ji, Kencho-ji | 2 h |
| Coast | Enoshima | ½ day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Kamakura day trip from Tokyo
A Kamakura day trip from Tokyo takes about an hour each way on the JR Yokosuka line from Tokyo or Shinagawa; get off at Kita-Kamakura and walk into town. The vintage Enoden tram runs along the coast to the Great Buddha and Enoshima. The nearest airport is Haneda.
| JR Yokosuka line | Tokyo, Shinagawa | ≈ 1 h |
|---|---|---|
| JR Shonan-Shinjuku | Shinjuku, Shibuya | ≈ 1 h |
| Enoden | Kamakura — Hase — Enoshima | ≈ 5–25 min |
| Keikyu + JR | Haneda Airport | ≈ 1 h |
Kamakura weather by month
Kamakura’s weather is like Tokyo’s but milder by the sea: the best times are April–May, June for hydrangeas, and October–November. Summer is ≈ 30 °C, with swimming at Yuigahama beach; winter is dry and sunny at ≈ 10 °C by day.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 10° | 11° | 14° | 19° | 23° | 26° | 29° | 31° | 27° | 22° | 17° | 12° |
| Night | 2° | 3° | 6° | 10° | 15° | 19° | 23° | 24° | 21° | 15° | 10° | 5° |
| Rain | 5 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: April–June and October–November
- day ≈ 10°
- night ≈ 2°
- rain 5 days
About 10°, dry, Fuji views.
- day ≈ 11°
- night ≈ 3°
- rain 6 days
Plum blossom.
- day ≈ 14°
- night ≈ 6°
- rain 10 days
About 14°; cherry blossom late in the month.
- day ≈ 19°
- night ≈ 10°
- rain 10 days
Cherry blossom at Tsurugaoka.
- day ≈ 23°
- night ≈ 15°
- rain 11 days
About 23° — excellent.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 19°
- rain 13 days
Hydrangeas — peak season.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 23°
- rain 11 days
Hot; Yuigahama beach.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 24°
- rain 9 days
The hottest month.
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 21°
- rain 12 days
About 27°, typhoons.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 15°
- rain 10 days
About 22° — pleasant.
- day ≈ 17°
- night ≈ 10°
- rain 7 days
Maples in the temples.
- day ≈ 12°
- night ≈ 5°
- rain 5 days
About 12°, clear.
What to eat in Kamakura
Kamakura is known for shirasu — tiny whitebait eaten raw or boiled on rice — and shojin ryori, Buddhist vegetarian temple cuisine. Komachi-dori sells sweets and dove-shaped biscuits.
- Shirasu-don — whitebait on rice, fresh from the coast.
- Shojin ryori — Buddhist vegetarian food by the Zen temples.
- Hato sable — the dove biscuit, the town’s souvenir.
- Komachi-dori sweets — mochi, dango and matcha ice cream.
Kamakura ticket prices
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Komachi-dori, Zeniarai Benzaiten and Sasuke Inari are free. You pay for the Great Buddha, Hase-dera, Hokoku-ji (tea in the grove is extra), Kencho-ji and Engaku-ji — usually 300–500 yen.
| Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in) | 46 | 40 min | ¥300 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple) | 38 | 45 min | ≈ ¥400 |
| Kenchō-ji Temple | 38 | 1 h | ≈ ¥500 |
| Engaku-ji Temple | 37 | 1 h | ¥500 |
| Hase-dera Temple | 35 | 1 h 15 min | ¥400 |
| Enoshima Island | 34 | 3 h | free; tower and caves ≈ ¥500 |
Free — 4 places: Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine, Komachi-dori Street, Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine, Sasuke Inari Shrine.
Tips
- Start in North Kamakura and walk towards the centre — less uphill and fewer crowds.
- At Zeniarai Benzaiten, people wash coins in the spring for luck with money.
- In June, Hase-dera’s hydrangea path uses timed tickets — arrive at opening.
FAQ
Is Kamakura worth visiting?
Yes — the Great Buddha, Zen temples, bamboo groves and the sea make it the best day trip from Tokyo.
Do I need a visa for Japan?
It depends on your passport: many nationalities are visa-exempt for short stays, others apply for a visa or eVISA. Check the official rules for your passport.
How do I get from Tokyo to Kamakura?
By JR Yokosuka line from Tokyo or Shinagawa in about an hour.
What to do in Kamakura in one day?
North Kamakura’s temples in the morning, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and Komachi-dori at midday, then the Enoden to the Great Buddha and Hase-dera.
Can you go inside the Kamakura Great Buddha?
Yes, for a small extra fee at set hours.
How do I get to Enoshima?
By Enoden tram from Kamakura or Hase in about 25 minutes, then across the bridge on foot.
When do hydrangeas bloom in Kamakura?
Through June; the best-known are at Hase-dera and Meigetsu-in.
What is the weather like in Kamakura in November?
About 17 °C by day and 10 °C at night — maples in the temple gardens.
Can you swim in Kamakura?
Yes, at Yuigahama and Zaimokuza beaches in July and August.
How much is the Great Buddha?
About 300 yen for the grounds; see the place card in the list above.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia, “Kamakura”; “Kamakura Daibutsu”; “Tsurugaoka Hachimangū”; Yokohama climate (1991–2020 normals)
- City of Kamakura — official tourism website
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)