Kamakura is the perfect day trip from Tokyo. With many temples and shrines to explore as well as the iconic large seated Buddha found at Kotoku-in Temple

Day Trip to Kamakura From Tokyo: Japan’s Ancient Samurai City

Kamakura is the perfect day trip from Tokyo if you are looking to get out of the hustle of the modern megacity and step into Japan’s historic past. Originally established as a samurai city, there are plenty of historic buildings to imagine walking in the footsteps of warriors.

I loved that Kamakura was a slower pace than Tokyo and had so many shrines and temples within short walking distance of one another. I was surprised by how much this city reminded me of a smaller-scale Kyoto. Kamakura is only an hour’s train ride away and requires no pre-planning so you can fit it into your Japan itinerary last minute.

One of the highlights is the Great Buddha of Kamakura which is worth the trip alone, but there are also many beautiful sights to keep you busy for a full day. This day trip to Kamakura ended up being one of my favourite days in Tokyo.

A large vermillion torii gate that is at the entrance of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine with a pedestrian crosswalk in front of it in Kamakura, Japan
San-no Gate with Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine behind it

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Getting to Kamakura from Tokyo

Kamakura is served by a metro line so it is easy to get to from Tokyo. It isn’t necessary to pre-book train tickets. Try to arrive in Kamakura around 9 am when the temples open. Temples close by 5 pm so if you arrive late in the day you will not be able to visit everything in this day trip itinerary.

The Yokosuka Line takes about an hour direct to Kamakura with stops at Tokyo Station, Shimbashi, and Shinagawa.

If you are staying near Shinjuku Station, you can take the Shonan-Shinjuku Line to Ofuna Station and then transfer to the Yokosuka Line to Kamakura.

If you prefer an organized bus tour to Kamakura, this tour to Kamakura and Enoshima is the perfect option for a day trip from Tokyo.

Spending a Day in Kamakura, Japan

While many people combine Kamakura with a visit to Enoshima, I found Kamakura to be a full day by itself. Kamakura is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as samurai founded it as a seat of political power. It continued to be important to samurai culture until the 1800s.

I spent the day in Kamakura and nearby Hase visiting some of the most important sites in the Kamakura area. Kamakura is a fantastic day trip to add to your Tokyo itinerary and I visited on the last day of my two week Japan itinerary. It’s a great day trip, especially if you only have a short trip to Japan and won’t have time to visit Kyoto.

A carved warrior that you can find in the temple gate of Sugimoto
Warrior in Sugimoto Temple Gate

Visiting Hokokuji Temple and Bamboo Forest

Start your morning in Kamakura by visiting Hokokuji Temple. You can reach the temple by walking about 30 minutes (2.2km) or taking the bus. I chose to take the bus as it leaves from right outside the Kamakura train station and takes only 12 minutes, at the time it was buses number 23 or 36 but check with the Tourist Information office there or Google Maps to confirm.

Hokokuji Temple is a small temple set in a beautiful bamboo grove. It’s the perfect substitute for Kyoto’s Arashiyama Bamboo Forest if you don’t have a chance to make it there. Even better, you can have tea in the teahouse amidst the forest to enjoy the tranquil views. This temple was so peaceful to visit in the morning.

After leaving Hokokuji Temple, there is a small coffee shop that makes fantastic coffee if you need a caffeine boost, Kameya Coffee.

Stone steps in a bamboo forest at Hokokuji Temple in Kamakura, Japan
The bamboo forest at Hokokuji Temple, Kamakura

Exploring One of Kamakura’s Oldest Temples: Sugimoto

Sugimoto Temple is a short walk from Hokokuji and looks unassuming from the road. This temple is one of Kamakura’s oldest temples and was founded in 734. One of the notable features here are the warriors in the temple gate. This temple is set on a hill and I found the old moss-covered steps quite charming.

Looking through an old wooden gate at Sugimoto Temple you can see old mossy stairs
Mossy stairs at Sugimoto Temple, Kamakura

Another highlight of Sugimoto is that if you walk up to the top and past the temple, on a clear day you can have views of Mount Fuji. I lucked out and could see the snow-covered slopes when I visited Kamakura.

The snow covered peak of Mount Fuji rises above Kamakura, as viewed from Sugimoto Temple
Snow-covered Mount Fuji can be seen in the distance from Sugimoto Temple

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu: Kamakura’s Must Visit Shrine

A large staircase leads to the main shrine at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, a must visit while on a day trip to Kamakura, Japan
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is one of Kamakura’s most important shrines and one you should be sure to visit. The large grounds here have multiple subshrines and ponds to explore around. The most notable feature is the grand staircase that leads up to the senior shrine. Walking up this staircase you will find the shrine as well as a small subshrine to the left known as Maruyama Inari Shrine. Maruyama Inari Shrine has many vermillion torii gates similar to Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, just on a smaller scale.

Vermillion torii gates with a staircase below them at Maruyama Inari Shrine, part of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura, Japan
Maruyama Inari Shrine

After exploring Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, you can walk out of San-no Torii gate and down the pedestrian path here. This path is part of the shrine as it forms the Sando (approach) that goes through two more torii gates and ends at the sea. It also forms Kamakura’s main avenue and will lead you towards the train station and some lunch options.

Lunch and Train to Hase

By now it should be around lunchtime. I was running short on time so I just grabbed a sandwich from a store to save time. If you have time for a sit-down meal, I had Narutoya + Tenzo and Umi Kamakura saved as possible lunch options near to the Kamakura Train Station.

Your next destination is best reached by train so head to the Kamakura Train Station after lunch. Take the Enoden Line train from Kamakura to Hase Station. It’s only a 5-minute train trip. Alternatively, you can walk as it is about 25 minutes between stations.

Hasedera Temple

Hasedera Temple is a highlight of the area. The temple Sanmon Gate has a beautiful large red lantern. The grounds here are large so you do need about an hour to cover everything.

A large red lantern hangs from Sanmon Gate at the entrance to Hasedera Temple in Kamakura, Japan
Sanmon Gate at Hasedera Temple

One of the highlights here is Benten-kutsu Cave. You can walk through this cave to see the statues carved into the rock as well as small statues placed in honour of Kobo Daishi, a Buddhist saint who is believed to have practiced here in the 800s. Close to the cave is the Karesansui Japanese rock garden.

Rocks are swirled in patterns and surrounded by moss in the Japanese style rock garden at Hasedera Temple
Karesansui Japanese rock garden

After exploring the cave, you walk up stairs to see Kannon-do Hall. I loved the architectural style of this hall and how grand it looked. There is also a museum here if you want to learn more about the faith and history of the temple. There is a lot to explore around the hall including the belfry, a lookout point, and prayer wheels.

Kannon-do Hall at Hasedera Temple with white walls and a Japanese style black roof.
Kannon-do Hall at Hasedera Temple

If you are up for more walking uphill, it’s worth doing Prospect Path. I wasn’t there at the right time of year but if visit in June, the path is lined by 40 different types of hydrangea flowers. Even without the blooms, there are beautiful views of the sea and beaches from the top of this path.

View over Hase and Kamakura from Hasedera Temple. Blue sky and the sea.
View of the Sea from Hasedera Temple

Kimono and Yukata Shopping in Hase

When you leave Hasedera and head towards the Great Buddha, many shops are offering kimonos, yukata, and pottery. It’s a great option if you are looking for secondhand pieces or brand-new souvenirs. I wish I had allotted more time to exploring some of the antique shops here. If you want to do some shopping make sure you have cash on hand as some of the smaller pottery places especially are cash only and I even saw some that operated on the honour system of putting cash in the box.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura at Kōtoku-in Temple

The Great Buddha of Kamakura is what made me want to visit Kamakura in the first place. All the other temples just felt like icing on the cake. One of the unique things about the Kamakura Great Buddha is that it sits in the open air. Having visited the Great Buddha in Nara, this one seemed even grander as it wasn’t in a building.

The inside of the Great Buddha is hollow so you can view the inside. Kotoku-in is a smaller temple so it doesn’t take long to view the grounds.

Close up of the Great Buddha of Kamakura at Kotoku-in Temple
The Great Buddha of Kamakura

Returning to Tokyo

After exploring Hase, if you have time left in the day you could take the Enoden line train to nearby Enoshima to see the Sea Candle and bridge. I didn’t have time so I just got the Enoden train back to Kamakura before getting the metro back to Tokyo.

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2 Comments

  1. This guide to Kamakura is fantastic! I love how you’ve captured the essence of this historic city and its serene pace compared to Tokyo. The detailed itinerary with highlights like Hokokuji Temple’s bamboo grove and the Great Buddha is exactly what I needed for planning my visit. Hasedera Temple looks like a must-see with its beautiful cave and rock garden. Thanks for the tips on transportation and lunch spots too, it really helps to have such comprehensive information for a day trip.

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