A few kilometers from Tokyo, the capital of Japan, you will find one of the places where you can feel the traditional Japanese essence. It is an enclave with temples resembling Japanese popular books, as well as huge sculptures embodying deities of the country’s folklore. The Giant Buddha which you can visit in Kamakura, is one of the main attractions of this small town.
Although many people believe that there is nothing more to see in Kamakura than the Giant Buddha, they are not right. There, among the bamboo forests, hidden temples survived the passage of time, shrines rise among the cherry trees and rivers bathe the flora of the place. We tell you everything you need to know and more in this article.
What are the best places to see in Kamakura?
1. The Great Buddha of Kamakura
Of course, our tour of the charming village of Kamakura starts at the imposing and timeless Great Buddha of Kamakura. Located outdoors in the lesser-known temple of Kotoku-in, in the main courtyard of the structure.
Its calm demeanor and considerable size are the two signs of this structure’s identity. For this reason, this statue of more than 11 meters, has become an icon of the town, welcoming thousands and thousands of visitors throughout the year. They come to pay their respect, or simply to admire this piece of historical and cultural heritage that you can find in Kamakura.
Curiously, paying a small fee, you can access the inside of the sculpture. If you decide to visit the site, even if it’s not particularly impressive inside, it’s interesting to gain access to the bowels of the Great Buddha.
2. The Temple Hase-dera
Among the temples patiently awaiting your visit, besides Kotoku-in Temple, the closest to the Great Buddha structure is Hase-dera Temple. It is undoubtedly one of the most famous temples in all of Kamakura.
Its most characteristic element, are the hundreds of tiny statues of people called jizo, which were erected as an offering to children who passed away long ago. It’s a moving experience, which gains even more meaning when you learn the story behind the sculptures.
Long ago, in the vicinity of Hase-dera Temple, there stood another temple called Gokurakuji Temple, which was destroyed many years ago. Today only a pavilion remains of what was once a structure of some fifty small temples that made up the entire enclave.
3. Hokokoku-ji Temple and the Bamboo Forest in Kamakura
If you are one of those who also love to enjoy nature on your travels, there is an incredible place in Kamakura. Getting lost there is a pleasure and sheltering from the heat of the summer season among its bamboo trees is practically a must. This is none other than the Kamakura Bamboo Forest.
Although the bamboo forest that attracts the most visitors in Japan is the Arashiyama Forest in Kyoto, this forest has nothing to envy. Visiting it brings with it an inherent peace that is hard to shake off, as well as having fewer visitors than its competitor in Kyoto.
Of course, the reason for wandering into it is usually to visit Hokoku-ji Temple, which is hidden in the undergrowth of the consecutive bamboo trees that make up this natural spectacle. And if you visit all of these surroundings, you should enjoy the local green tea, something that has become another hallmark of Kamakura.
4. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
The finishing touch on this tour of unforgettable temples and unique natural environments is the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Dedicated to the god of war, it is among the most important and visited shrines in the entire population of Kamakura.
And although the Great Buddha usually takes the attention of all visitors who come to appreciate all there is to see in Kamakura, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is among the most praised by the locals. Its setting, made up of various gardens, cherry trees, ponds and rivers, makes this shrine an unforgettable visit.
It is common for locals to celebrate their festivities, rituals and events around the shrine, as it is a monument of great significance to them. To enter you only have to pay 200 yen. And in the heart of the shrine, you will also find the Kamakura National Treasure Museum.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see around Kamakura
The beaches of Kamakura
Kamakura, in addition to offering an enviable natural, cultural and historical heritage, is also a destination where you can enjoy the summer season, escaping the heat and humidity of Japan in its various beaches.
The beaches are located about 20-30 minutes from the center of town. There are three different beaches, called Yuigahama, Zaimokuza and Koshigoe. They are bathing-friendly and have all kinds of dining and entertainment venues around them, so they are certainly a perfect spot to go to if you are visiting Kamakura.
What to see in 1 day in Kamakura
Despite how small the city is compared to other towns, there are a lot of things to see in Kamakura. Yet in 1 day you will be able to experience the place. To help you make the most of it, we’ve prepared a list of things to do and see in Kamakura in 1 day.
We recommend that you start your route at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine or Hokoku-ji Temple and the Bamboo Forest. These two sites are usually crowded during the day, so getting up early is a good option to enjoy them properly.
After that, the next point of the route would be to visit the Big Buddha and then the Hase-dera temple. If you have more time, there are more temples that we had to leave off the list, such as Kenchoji Temple and Jochiji, which are part of the zen Kamakura temple route.
Where and what to eat in Kamakura
The gastronomy of Japan is famous worldwide and is, without a doubt, one of the main attractions of traveling to this country. That is why we have prepared a recommendation of some places where you can enjoy it on your visit to Kamakura:
- Garden House Restaurant: A luxurious space, with large windows that make the Garden House dining experience something to remember. The price ranges from €10 to €37.
- Udon Kamakura Miyoshi: One of Kamakura’s best-known specialty udon restaurants. A highly recommended stop on your visit and priced between 15€ and 30€.
- Sometaro: Okonomiyaki is their specialty, but you can also enjoy all the typical Japanese street food dishes. Their prices range from 7€.
Where to stay in Kamakura
Sometimes planning everything on a trip is a bit chaotic, so to make your stay much more enjoyable, we’ve put together a list of some accommodation options for your days in Kamakura:
- Kamakura Prince Hotel: One of the most luxurious hotels in all of Kanakura. Just minutes away from the beach, it has a huge pool, spacious rooms and a price of €700 for two nights in the high season.
- Guesthouse Shiba fu: A charming guesthouse style house, with lovely decor and comfortable facilities (as well as being in the heart of downtown). The price for two people and two nights is 132€.
- Good morning Zaimokuza: Great views provided by its large windows and the white sandy beach that prostrates before this hotel, make the experience unforgettable. The price for a weekend and two people is 262€.
What should I consider before traveling to Kamakura?
- The official currency of Japan is the yen.
- The best time to travel to Kamakura is spring, when the weather is warm and not yet as expensive as during the summer.
- It is best to avoid exchanging money at the airport, as their prices are high.
- Japanese is spoken in Kamakura and generally, although English is spoken in public transportation stations and more touristy places, we recommend that you learn some basic Japanese expressions.
- The tap water is drinkable.
- For Spanish citizens it is not necessary to have a visa if you travel for less than 90 days. But you must have your passport and be able to prove you have a the hotel reservations and that the trip is a tourist one.
- Hedge yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
- Carry the name of the hotel written down on paper.
- The country is generally very safe, but just in case be careful with your belongings.
How to prepare what to see on your trip to Kamakura
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all of its possibilities.
- Get inspired by other travelers’ experiences
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post)
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travelers what to see in Kamakura in Japan.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Kamakura
Getting to Kamakura is really easy. From Tokyo it is a journey of less than an hour and also, if you have the JR Pass, it is included in its price.
If not, you can find tickets for less than 1000 yen.
Udon Kamakura Miyoshi, Sometaro and Garden House Restaurant.
Kamakura Prince Hotel, Guesthouse Shiba fu and Good morning Zaimokuza.
You can cover the vast majority of your journeys on foot, which we recommend as the distances are not very long. You can also opt to take public buses or a cab, if needed. But as we said there are no long distances.
Kamakura has a typical Japanese coastal climate, with hot and humid summers. While winter weather is pronouncedly windy and temperatures do not drop below 3 degrees.
We recommend the spring season, from March to the end of May and also from the end of August to the beginning of September.
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