Kamakura Day Trip Model Itinerary - Just A Train Ride From Tokyo!

Model Day Trip Itinerary in Kamakura

By leaving at about 8:00 in the morning from Tokyo, you can easily enjoy a full day of soaking in the sights in Kamakura. Now let's take a look at our recommended route.

8:00 AM: Leave Tokyo

For the sake of this model course, let's say that you have left from either Tokyo, Ueno or Shinagawa Station, and are taking the Yokosuka line to Kamakura Station. From Tokyo it will cost 920 yen (taking 57 minutes) and from Shinagawa 720 yen (taking 49 minutes) to reach Kamakura Station.

9:00 AM: Arrive at Kamakura, Head to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

First, let's head to Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine, the most famous shrine in Kamakura. It is about a 10-minute walk from Kamakura Station. This shrine was especially revered by the Genji family nearly 900 years ago.

Admission fee: Free
Address: Kanagawa, Kamakura, Yukinoshita 2-1-31
Website: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

10:30: Take the Bus to Hokokuji Temple

Hokokuji Temple is an excellent place to take photographs and to enjoy the traditional Japanese atmosphere. Also known as the Bamboo Temple, the stunning bamboo forest that spreads out around this temple makes it not only a famous spot for international visitors, but also for domestic travelers.

The bus ride from Kamakura Station to Hokokuji takes about 12 minutes. You can also walk to it - it takes around 30 minutes.

Admission fee: 200 yen; a cup of matcha tea (with Japanese sweets) - 500 yen
Address: Kanagawa, Kamakura, Joumyoji 2-7-4
Website: Hokokuji Temple

To learn more, please see Kamakura, Hōkokuji: A Secluded And Fascinating Bamboo Temple.

12:00: Have Lunch Around Kamakura Station

After visiting Hokokuji Temple, return to Kamakura Station, where you will find plenty of cafes and restaurants selling dishes ranging from freshly caught shirasu (whitebait) rice bowls, healthy Kamakura vegetable-based meals, vegetarian dishes suitable like those had at temples, and much more.

MATCHA's recommended restaurants are:

Kamakura Vegetables and Ramen at Ramen Ichikanjin
If you would like to enjoy freshly picked Kamakura vegetables and delicious noodles and soup, we recommend trying the tsukemen here. Read With Exquisite Fresh Kamakura Vegetables! "Ramen Ichikanjin" for more.

Homemade Curries and Desserts at OXYMORON
This is a very fashionable cafe. Chicken curry, Japanese style keema curry, Sri Lankan style mutton curry - all curries from standard recipes to unique dishes are made here. Not only that but their seasonally-themed sweets are also incredibly popular too. And as everything is homemade, the food has a certain comforting, rustic charm to it. See Enjoy Fastidiously Prepared Curry At Kamakura7s OXYMORON (Japanese) for more.

Enjoy Vegetarian Dishes in Kamakurabori at Guri
Kamakurabori, a type of carved lacquer ware, is one of the most well-known handicrafts from Kamakura. If you would like to see these dishes up close and enjoy shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) on them for yourself, then pay a visit to Cafe Guri. They also have a non-vegetarian menu available. Read Enjoy a Vegetarian Lunch at Cafe Guri, Kamakurabori Assembly Hall for more.

All of the above-mentioned shops are within a 10-minute walk from Kamakura Station, so if there is something that has caught your attention, by all means, please check it out.

13:00: Take the Enoden to See Hase-dera Temple and the Giant Buddha Statue, Daibutsu

Once you've visited Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine, return to Kamakura Station and take the Enoshima Electric Railway (Enoden) to Hase Station. The trip will take about 10 minutes. Upon arriving at Hase Station, first make your way to Kotoku-in, where the Kamakura Daibutsu or Great Buddha statue is located. It is about a 7 minute walk from the station.

After viewing the Great Buddha statue, head to nearby Hase-dera Temple, which is famous for its hydrangeas in June and fall foliage in October.

Kotoku-in Temple
Admission fee: General ticket 200 yen, elementary school student 150 yen
Hours: 7:00-17:30 (last admission 15 minutes prior to closing: October to March until 17:00)
Address: Kamakura, Hase 4-2-28
Website: Kotoku-in Temple

Hase-dera Temple
Admission fee: Adults 400 yen, elementary school 200 yen
Hours: March to Sept. 8:00-17:00 (closed by 17:30), Oct. to Feb. 8:00-16:30 (closed by 17:00)
Address: Kanagawa, Kamakura, Hase 3-11-2
Website: Hase-dera Temple

To learn more, please see Enjoy The Fall Colors At These Top Kamakura Spots (Japanese).

16:15: Take the Enoden to Kamakurakokomae Station

Return to Hase Station and take the Enoden once more. This time you will be traveling for four stations, and alighting at Kamakurakokomae Station. Kamakurakokomae Station is often used in filming Japanese TV dramas and used as the backdrop for scenes in many anime series as well, like "Slam Dunk". The sight of the sun as its sets on the beach just across from the station is not to be missed - make sure to have your camera ready.

If you have time to spare, head back to Kamakurakokomae Station and take the train going towards Kamakura two stops, to Inamuragasaki Station, another famous sunset viewing spot. If you are lucky and visit on a day with clear skies, you can also see Mount Fuji in the distance.

17:30: Arrive at Kamakura Station, Shop on Komachi-dori

From either Kamakurakokomae Station or Inamuragasaki Station, take the Enoden back to Kamakura Station. Now it's time to head to Komachi-dori and do some shopping. There are several shops selling Japanese-style goods around the Komachi-dori area. The Studio Ghibli-related store, Donguri Republic is quite popular.

Hato Sable cookies and Kurumikko are two famous sweets sold in this area. If you want to try sampling some traditional Japanese snacks, go to Mameya, a shop with peanut and soybean-based treats in all sorts of flavors, like matcha and takoyaki.

Make sure to spend some time souvenir shopping on Komachi-dori.

18:30: Depart from Kamakura for Tokyo

After you have enjoyed your shopping, it's time to take the JR line back to Tokyo. If you leave around 19:00, you will arrive in Tokyo at around 20:00, so if you have more time, then it might be nice to stop and have dinner at one of the lovely restaurants on Komachi-dori.

Kamakura Day Trip - Travel Outside of Tokyo for Shrines, a Giant Buddha and Local Treats

Today we introduced a basic itinerary to see the most of Kamakura's exciting sightseeing spots. In Kamakura, there are plenty of other exciting places to visit, including many boutique shops selling fashionable and unique items, as well as restaurants that are well-loved by the locals too.

The travelers with plenty of time in their schedules should consider this day trip course to be the basis around which to build their own adventures in Kamakura.