Kamakura day trip from Tokyo or Yokohama
A day trip to Kamakura from Tokyo or Yokohama: the Zen temples of Engaku-ji and Kencho-ji in Kita-Kamakura, the great shrine of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and lunch on Komachi-dori, the bamboo grove and tea house of Hokokuji, then the bronze Great Buddha at Kotoku-in and the hillside temple of Hase-dera with its view of the sea. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Kamakura in 1 day
Day 1
Engaku-ji
Large Zen temple of 1282 on the wooded hill beside Kita-Kamakura Station, with a relic hall and fine autumn colours.
Kencho-ji
The oldest Zen training monastery in Japan, founded in 1253, first of Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples, with a grand wooden gate.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
Kamakura's most important shrine, founded by the Minamoto shoguns, at the top of a long approach from the sea.
Komachi-dori
Busy lane of snack, sweet and souvenir shops running from Kamakura Station towards the shrine, good for lunch.
Hokokuji bamboo grove
Small Zen temple with a dense grove of tall moso bamboo; matcha is served in a tea house among the stems.
Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoku-in)
Bronze Buddha over 11 metres tall, cast in the thirteenth century and sitting in the open air since its hall was washed away.
Hase-dera
Hillside temple with a tall wooden statue of Kannon, a cave of small carvings and a terrace looking over the bay.
Getting there
From Tokyo the JR Yokosuka Line runs direct in about an hour, and from Yokohama in about 25 minutes; get off at Kita-Kamakura, the stop before Kamakura, which is next to Engaku-ji, and walk on from there. For the Great Buddha and Hase-dera, the little Enoden line runs from Kamakura Station to Hase in a few minutes.
Staying in Tokyo or Yokohama? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Kamakura
Spring and autumn are the best seasons; the hydrangeas flower in June and the maples turn from late November to early December. Summer is hot and humid but the beaches are open. Weekends and holidays are crowded all year, so a weekday is much more pleasant.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Kamakura on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Kamakura on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Kamakura on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Japan from Airalo
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Tips for Kamakura
- Go on a weekday if you can: Kamakura is very busy on weekends, in the June hydrangea season and in the autumn colours.
- Komachi-dori, the lane from Kamakura Station towards Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, is lined with snack and sweet shops, good for a quick lunch on the way.
- Hokokuji is about 1.5 km east of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu; afterwards a bus or taxi back to Kamakura Station for the Enoden to Hase saves time.
- For Hase-dera's hydrangea path in June, numbered entry tickets may be needed on busy days; arrive early.
- In summer the beaches near Hase and Yuigahama are a short walk from the Great Buddha, if you want to end the day by the sea.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Engaku-ji: DimiTalen, CC0
- Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoku-in): ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY 4.0
- Hase-dera: 三人日, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hokokuji bamboo grove: Nesnad, CC BY 4.0
- Kencho-ji: Wiiii, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu: Ocdp, CC0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
