One day in Kamakura: an itinerary in the best order
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 2 of 6 free; 4 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 7 h 50 min · 09:30–17:19
- Start and finish
- Engaku-ji Temple → Hase-dera Temple
- On foot
- ≈ 49 min in total
- Transport
- 1 ride, ≈ 20 min
- Lunch
- around 12:58
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- June for hydrangeas, November for maples, spring for cherry blossom.
The plan, stop by stop
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Kamakura09:30–17:19 · 6 places · 7 h 50 min
Engaku-ji Temple
· 1 h · ¥500
- 17 min on foot
Kenchō-ji Temple
· 1 h · ≈ ¥500
- 11 min on foot
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine
· 1 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 11 min on foot
Komachi-dori Street
· 45 min · Free
- 20 min · transport or taxi
Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)
· 40 min · ¥300
- 10 min on foot
Hase-dera Temple
· 1 h 15 min · ¥400
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
2 of 6 are free; 4 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Engaku-ji Temple | 37 | 1 h | ¥500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Kenchō-ji Temple | 38 | 1 h | ≈ ¥500 |
| 3 | Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine | 44 | 1 h | Free |
| 4 | Komachi-dori Street | 44 | 45 min | Free |
| 5 | Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in) | 46 | 40 min | ¥300 |
| 6 | Hase-dera Temple | 35 | 1 h 15 min | ¥400 |
| Total | 5 h 40 min | 2 of 6 free |
Tips for each stop
- 1
Engaku-ji Temple. A Zen temple of 1282 on wooded slopes right by Kita-Kamakura station. 500 yen.
- 2
Kenchō-ji Temple. Kamakura's oldest Zen temple, 1253: huge gates and a dragon on the ceiling. About 500 yen.
- 3
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine. The city's main shrine, to the patron of samurai. Free.
- 4
Komachi-dori Street. A 360 m pedestrian street from Kamakura station: street food, sweets and souvenirs. Free.
- 5
Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in). A 13.35 m bronze Amida under the open sky, a National Treasure. 300 yen.
- 6
Hase-dera Temple. A hillside temple with a bay view and a 9.18 m wooden Kannon. 400 yen.
Who this route is for
- A day trip from Tokyo
- Temples and the sea
- On foot and by local train
- Enoshima needs another half day
- Weekends and hydrangea season make Hase-dera very busy
June for hydrangeas, November for maples, spring for cherry blossom.
Kamakura day trip itinerary
Get off at Kita-Kamakura — the temples start at the platform. Walk over the hills to the centre, then take the little Enoden line two stops from Kamakura station to Hase for the Buddha and Hase-dera.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
Getting there from Tokyo
The JR Yokosuka line runs from Tokyo Station to Kita-Kamakura and Kamakura in about an hour. Head back from Kamakura, or from Hase via the Enoden.
The Great Buddha
Cast around 1252, the statue now sits in the open in the courtyard of Kotoku-in. Entry is 300 yen, with a small extra to go inside the statue, 8:00–16:30. The temple opens 8:00–17:30 from April to September and until 17:00 from October to March.
More to see
Hokoku-ji has a bamboo grove and matcha in its tea pavilion. Zeniarai Benzaiten is the shrine where you wash your money. Sasuke Inari has a tunnel of torii and white foxes. Enoshima is an island with Fuji views.
How to do it right
- Start at Kita-Kamakura: the walk is downhill towards the sea.
- The Enoden is a small seaside train — expect queues at weekends.
- Keep quiet at temples and shrines and take your shoes off before entering halls; photos inside halls are often not allowed. There is no tipping in Japan.
- Japan uses the yen. Foreign cards work almost everywhere, but temples, markets and small cafés want cash. A Suica or PASMO card pays for trains, metro and shops by the station.
- Wear good shoes: the paths between temples cross the hills.
Questions
What to do in Kamakura in one day?
Engaku-ji, Kencho-ji, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Komachi-dori, the Great Buddha and Hase-dera.
How do I get from Tokyo to Kamakura?
On the JR Yokosuka line, about an hour.
How much is the Great Buddha?
300 yen.
How much is Hase-dera?
400 yen.
How much does the day cost?
About 1,700 yen in tickets, plus trains.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; children enjoy peeking inside the Great Buddha.
Can I add Enoshima?
It is a squeeze: the island needs another half day.
When are Hase-dera's hydrangeas?
In June — the busiest time.
When is the best time?
Spring, June and November.
How do I pay in Japan?
Japan uses the yen. Foreign cards work almost everywhere, but temples, markets and small cafés want cash. A Suica or PASMO card pays for trains, metro and shops by the station.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
- Wikipedia: Kamakura, Kotoku-in
