If you don't have enough time, don't worry, we provide a half-day trip itinerary to explore Kamakura while still getting its essence! Visit the must-see shrines and temples as well as other areas unique to Kamakura in just one afternoon.
A poet, a reader, a photo-enthusiast - I tend to record beauty in many different ways. Currently, a university researcher of Japanese language and culture. I always enjoy dressing up in unique fashion and hunting for cute cafes around the city.
There are many reasons why someone can only spend little time at an amazing place such as Kamakura. Whatever the reason may be, you can have an eventful half-day in Kamakura while still experiencing its essence.
Most temples and shops in Kamakura close their doors around 5 pm and, some even as early as 4 pm! That is why we recommend arriving at Kamakura station by noon to be able to enjoy everything mentioned in this article.
1. How to get to Kamakura
Kamakura is a popular day-trip destination for people visiting Tokyo because of it's close proximity to the metropolis. You can use the JR Yokosuka line from Tokyo station or Shinagawa station while the JR Shonan Shinjuku line connects Shinjuku and Kamakura.
Kamakura is also reachable by the Odakyu line and the route is covered by the Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass and the Hakone Kamakura pass. Any of these lines will take you to Kamakura in about one hour and it will cost less than 1,000 yen.
The Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass can now be purchased online at any time using a smartphone, through EMot Online Tickets (Odakyu’s Digital Ticket).
Despite being just an hour away by train from Shinjuku station, Kamakura has the charm of an old town and it feels like a completely different part of Japan.
Access Kamakura station
Kanagawa, Kamakura, Onarimachi, 1−15
2. Explore Komachi Street and Other Shopping Streets
When you arrive at Kamakura station, instead of heading straight to the main sightseeing spots, how about having a little walk around the popular shopping streets of Kamakura?
The main shopping street is also the closest to the station, it is called the Komachi street. The Komachi street is easily visible from the JR East exit. The entrance of the street is marked by a red Torii gate and the street itself is full of souvenir shops, cafes, and restaurants.
You can enjoy many different snacks and desserts on the way and will arrive at the Tsuruoka Hachimangu shrine after only a short stroll. Make sure you don't spend too much time checking out the food and souvenirs since you still have a lot of places to explore.
Access Komachi street
Kanagawa, Kamakura, Komachi, 2−8
Tsuruoka Hachimangu is a famous and important shrine in Kamakura. It is quite vast with its red torii gates stretching all the way into the city center.
The main hall is located on top of a stairway. It also houses a garden and a small museum that require an entrance fee. Despite its small size, don't be tempted to explore all of it. You still have to visit other temples and shrines around Kamakura and as mentioned before, they generally close between 4 pm and 5 pm.
This shrine is open until 9 pm, which is much later than most other places in Kamakura, so maybe you can come back later if you want to explore it further.
Located a 25-minute walk away from the Tsuruoka Hachimangu shrine is the Hokokuji Zen Buddhist temple. There is also a bus that takes you to the temple if you don't want to walk. Hokokuji reminds a lot of people of Arashiyama in Kyoto, partly because of its bamboo grove. It is not as big as Arashiyama, but it is just as stunning.
After exploring the beautiful garden follow the narrow paths through the bamboo grove to reach the teahouse. The teahouse of Hokokuji offers a calming experience and is a perfect place to enjoy the scenery. Sipping freshly prepared matcha green tea while nibbling on Japanese sweets, you might be tempted to sit here for a long time.
The entrance fee is 200 yen. If you want to drink matcha green tea in the teahouse, you have to buy a 500 yen matcha ticket along with your entrance ticket, so the total cost for the whole experience will be 700 yen.
The signature landmark of Kamakura is the Great Buddha statue at the Kotokuin temple. It is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan and it is said that you haven't really been to Kamakura if you haven't visited the Great Buddha.
Reaching this temple on foot from Hokokuji would take a lot of time, so we recommend taking the bus from Hokokuji to Kamakura station. From Kamakura station, you can easily walk to Kotokuin.
This temple requires a small entrance fee of 200 yen and it is open until 5:30 pm (until 5 pm from October to March). For an additional 20 yen you can enter inside the Buddha, but keep in mind that you can enter only until 4:30 pm. Discover yourself how a Great Buddha statue looks from the inside.
The last stop in our itinerary is the Hasedera temple, located a 10-minute walk from Kotokuin. This temple requires a 300 yen entrance fee. Once inside, you should explore its gardens and its cave shrine before you go up the stairs.
On the upper level, you can find the Kannon Museum (requires an additional 300 yen entrance fee), a prayer rotation room and a restaurant with a great view of the coast below. If you are not hungry, you don't have to enter the restaurant for a great view. There is an observation deck as well.
The temple is also famous for its hydrangea flowers. If you visit in June and July you can enjoy the great view surrounded by purple flowers.
After seeing the seashore from above, why not explore it? The nearest beach, Yuigahama beach, is only a 10-minute walk away from the Hasedera temple. After a long day, you can watch the sunset while the waves leap and topple over each other on the shore.
Walking back to Kamakura station from here will take about 20-25 minutes. You can also go to Hase station and get to Kamakura station in about 10 minutes by train.
By the time you get there, most shops will be closed and most visitors might have left, but that doesn't mean you have to leave as well. Bars and restaurants will still be open. After exploring and walking around all day, sitting down for dinner or a couple of drinks will make you feel much better than immediately catching the train back to Tokyo.
This half-day itinerary leads through several temples, gardens, shopping streets and a beach. In just half a day you can explore famous Kamakura landmarks such as the Great Buddha and the Hokokuji Temple.
Simply walking between the recommended spots through picturesque Kamakura streets is an experience in itself. This tour will show you Kamakura's essence even if you don't have a full day or two to spend there. Why don't you try it out?
A poet, a reader, a photo-enthusiast - I tend to record beauty in many different ways. Currently, a university researcher of Japanese language and culture. I always enjoy dressing up in unique fashion and hunting for cute cafes around the city.
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