15 Things To Do In Kamakura For A Memorable Trip

10. Buy Kamakura's Best Loved Souvenir - the Hato Sable

From: Kamakura's Most Popular Souvenir: Toshimaya's Hato Sable

Nearby the path leading to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, you will find one branch of Toshimaya, a longstanding confectionery shop based in Kamakura that produces the most famous souvenir from the area: the Hato Sable. The Hato Sable is a rich butter cookie shaped like a dove, the symbol of the shrine, that you simply have to pick up when visiting Kamakura.

Toshimaya's main branch, and especially its cafe, Hatokoji, are also known for their beautiful seasonal wagashi (Japanese sweets), which are influenced by the colors and sights of the season. In the spring, they have limited edition cherry blossom treats, in summer hydrangea and azalea inspired desserts, vibrant fall confections in autumn, and warm, traditional delights in the winter.

11. Pick Up Baked Goods to Snack on During Your Stroll - Toshimaya's Tobira Branch

From: When In Kamakura Enjoy Japan-Only Baked Goods At Toshimaya

While the main branch of Toshimaya is best known for its wagashi and Hato Sable, the Tobira branch, which is close to Kamakura Station, is famous for its Western-style breads and rolls. It is the only Toshimaya branch where you can find these freshly baked treats, and as such, is a popular place for those looking for something special, or simply wanting a treat that they can snack on as they stroll about the city.

In this photo, you can see two of their more unusual treats: the takoyaki bun (left) and the curry bun (right). The curry bun is made with Japanese curry, including the pickles that come standard with it, while the takoyaki bun tastes just like a fresh takoyaki ball.

12. Visit Hokokuji, the Amazing Bamboo Temple

From: Kamakura, Hokokuji: A Secluded And Fascinating Bamboo Temple

If you don't mind going for a bit of a trek through a residential area, you will be quite happily rewarded by a visit to Hokokuji Temple - commonly known overseas as the Bamboo Temple, thanks to its incredible bamboo grove. The temple itself is rather smaller compared to some of the others mentioned in this article, but the bamboo grove more than makes up for this in impressiveness.

The bamboo grove is a beautiful and soothing place to visit all year round; there isn't a bad time to pay a visit here. In fact, one of the charms of this temple is the fact that there is a tea house in the bamboo garden.

You can drink great matcha tea and try some seasonal sweets in the garden, which means that all year long, there are different ways to enjoy the subtle beauty of the bamboo and temple surroundings.

13. Ride The Enoden Line and Surround Yourself in Colorful Sights

From: Celebrating The Flower Of Tsuyu: Hydrangeas At Their Peak In Kamakura

Tsuyu, or the rainy season, is the roughly one-month-long period in early summer when it can rain quite heavily or steadily in most of Japan. While this might sound off-putting at first, the rainy season makes Kamakura burst into a stunning, colorful display thanks to the thousands of hydrangeas that grow all across the area.

While there are numerous temples and shrines where you can enjoy these flowers up close, one charming way to see them that many may miss is from the window of their Enoden train. The Enoden, or Enoshima Electric Railway Line, is the train line that connects Kamakura Station with Fujisawa Station (on the JR and Odakyu lines) and is where many of the most famous sights in Kamakura are located.

The sight of this cute train surrounded by vibrant flowers in the early summer is one that both train and flower fans are sure to want to see, but the Enoden is also a great line to travel on the rest of the year as well. There are plenty of colorful autumn foliage spots that this line also passes by, as well as many cherry trees, and, if the winter is especially cold, there are even some beautiful snowy spots to see as well.

14. The Great Buddha of Kamakura - Visit the Symbol of the City

From: Kamakura Travel Guide: Welcome To Japan's Old Capital In Kanagawa

A five minute walk from Hase Station will bring you to Kotokuin Daibutsuden, home of the Kamakura Daibutsu, one of the three largest Buddha statues in Japan and one that is largely considered to be the symbol of the city. Standing roughly 11.4 meters tall, and weighing 121 tons, this giant Buddha was built over 1300 years ago from bronze. You can check out the interior and see the craftsmanship of the statue for just 20 yen, too.

From inside, there is a viewing platform where you can also take in the sights of the area as well, which is also a great place to snap photos of Kamakura from too. To learn more about the Kamakura Daibutsu, take a look at An Incredible Work - What Is The Kamakura Daibutsu?

15. Meigetsuin Temple - Enjoy A Window with a View

From: Kamakura's 4 Best Autumn Leaves Spots In 2017 - Temples, Parks And More!

Meigetsuin Temple rounds out this list simply because it is one of the most impressive places to view the seasons and the year-long beauty of Japanese architecture in Kamakura as a whole. Originally part of a larger temple complex, Meigetsuin Temple is part of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, and was preserved and then added to over the centuries, ultimately becoming the popular sightseeing spot that it is today.

Meigetsuin is perhaps best known for its round window, which overlooks a traditional Zen garden, which is itself something to see. But what makes this temple so popular are its seasonal views from this window. Hydrangeas in early summer, vivid greenery in later summer, gold and red leaves in autumn, sometimes a light dusting of snow in winter, and of course, cherry trees in spring.

To learn more about this temple, read Meigetsuin Temple, Kamakura - Japanese Aesthetics At Their Finest.

Appreciate Nature and Culture in Kamakura

If you're looking for a history-rich and colorful day trip from Tokyo, then a visit to Kamakura is just what you need. There are so many things to do and see here that you are sure to feel overwhelmed at first, but take heart! No matter what time of year you visit Kamakura in, you are sure to be surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery you can find in the Tokyo area.