The Perfect Itinerary for a Day Trip to Kamakura from Tokyo
A popular tourist destination sits just about one hour outside of Tokyo. It was once the capital of Japan, and features dozens of temples and shrines. If you haven’t figured it out yet based on the title of this post, it’s the beautiful fishing village of Kamakura. You will definitely want to add a day trip to Kamakura from Tokyo into your Japan itinerary. Let’s take a look at the best way to spend that day in Kamakura.
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Day Trip Itinerary for Kamakura
Kamakura offers more than enough Temples and Shrines to keep you busy for the day. This perfect day trip itinerary provides some margin for error. You’ll cover the main “can’t miss” sights as well as a number of smaller sights in between to add in as you desire. Or, if you’d rather skip all the “extras” and spend time eating a leisurely lunch, that’s a possibility too!
Catch an Early Train from Tokyo to Kamakura
There are quite a few things to see in Kamakura, so you will want to start your day early to make the most of your time. Located just an hour from Tokyo, there are quite a few options for transportation to Kamakura, but the various train routes mentioned below are by far the most cost effective and convenient ways to reach Kamakura from Tokyo.
Once you arrive at Kamakura Station, you will want to connect on the Enoden Line (Enoshima Dentetsu Train) and take it three stops to Hase Station. This is the location of your first stop – the Giant Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple.
Admire the Second Tallest Buddha in Japan at Kotoku-in Temple
From the Hase station, you have a quick ten minute walk to reach Kotoku-in Temple. The temple opens at 8am, which should put you there shortly after it opens to help avoid the crowds.
Kotoku-in Temple has a ¥200 entrance fee and for an additional ¥20 you can enter the statue. Inside the temple sits the spectacular Giant Buddha, the second tallest one located in Japan. It sits 13.35 meters tall, and is only shorter than the Buddha in Nara. The Giant Buddha is also known as Kamakura Daibutsu in Japanese, and it will simply blow you away!
Temple Hop Your Way to Hasadera Temple
The next main site on the agenda is the famous Hasadera Temple. It’s less than a ten minute walk away, but there’s no need to hurry there. Along the way you will pass a couple of smaller temples and shrines. Stop in and check them out if they pique your interest! Note that many of the smaller temples and shrines do not have an entrance fee.
- Kosoku-ji Temple
- Amanawa Shinmei Shrine
Hasadera Temple is most famous for its eleven-headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. It is a 9.18 meters tall and one of the largest wooden sculptures in Japan. You’ll find it located in the Kannon-do Hall. One of the things that makes Hasadera so beautiful is that it is set into the hillside. You will have great views in addition to many tiers to explore, like the garden down by the temple entrance.
The admission at Hasadera is ¥400, and you have the option to visit the Kannon Museum on the grounds of the temple for an additional ¥300.
Visit the Beach in Kamakura
From Hasadera, meander your way back past Hase Station to the beach of Kamakura. Again you’ll pass a number of smaller shrines and temples to explore.
- Mitama Shrine
- Shugenji Temple
- Mitakeokami Shrine
Then you’ll arrive at the beach of Kamakura. It is not the most beautiful beach in the world, but its worth a stop to relax for a bit and stick your feet in the water.
Make Your Way to Gokurakuji Temple
Continue your way through the backroads of Kamakura stopping in to check out all of the small temples and shrines that you pass.
- Umi Temple
- Joju-in Temple
- Kumano Shrine
Once you’ve made it to Gokurakuji Temple, it’s time to jump back on the train and head to explore the next part of Kamakura.
Take the Train from Gokurakuji Station back to Kamakura Station
In just a few minutes you will be taken from Gokurakuji Station back to the heart of Kamakura at Kamakura Station on the Enoden Line. This puts you in the middle of a number of temples and shrines, so you can continue on your exploration!
Explore the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Your first main stop will be Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. It is just a 10 minute walk from the Kamakura Station, and you’ll pass through the center of Kamakura to get there, including going past a number of torii gates along the way.
If you have the time and the stamina to explore more temples and shrines on your way to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, you can go just a little out of your way to check out:
- Hongaku-ji Temple
- Hiruko Jinja Shrine
- Myohonji Temple
- Taihoji Temple
Arriving at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, you’ll be at the most important shrine in Kamakura which is dedicated to Hachiman, the patron god of the Minamoto family and samurai. It offers a grandiose presence propped up on a hillside looking down at the town. The shrine itself is quite large and crowded but well worth exploring. And, as a bonus, there is no entrance fee!
Continue on to Kenchoji Temple
From the stunning Hachimangu Shrine, make your way to Kenchoji Temple, the oldest Zen temple in Kamakura. The direct walk will only take about 15 minutes, but if you can still handle more temples, stop by some of these on your way.
- Enno-ji Temple
- Zenkyo-in Temple
- Kaizando Temple
- Ryuhoin Temple
Arriving at Kenchoji Temple, you’ll find a ¥500 entrance fee. It is well worth it as you will not only find a traditional Temple, but you can continue on about 15 – 20 minutes into the hills behind it to arrive at Hansobo, which is a shrine for the protection of Kenchoji. The key reason to make it all the way here is to stand on its observation deck and look out to Mount Fuji. It is clearly visible on good days.
Another five minutes up you’ll reach another observation deck that offers great views of the temple below. This is also where the Tenen hiking trail begins into the northern hills of Kamakura. It will take about one hour to complete and take you past Zuisenji Temple.
Stop at Engakuji Temple
One last stop before returning to Tokyo – Engakuji Temple. This Zen Temple has a ¥300 entrance fee.
Take the Train from Kita-Kamakura Station back to Tokyo
Retire to the Kita-Kamakura Train Station next door to Engakuji Temple and make your way back to Tokyo. This temple and shrine packed day trip to Kamakura from Tokyo will keep you busy learning all about the culture, religion, history, and architecture of Japan.
Overwhelmed by the number of temples and shrines? The top five sights in Kamakura make it easy.
How to Set Your Day Trip Up for Success
Kamakura is overall an easy day trip to make. It’s not far or hard to navigate, but there are a few things you can do to make your trip the best it can be.
Mark Your Destinations on an Offline Map
To make sure you are not missing any of your “must see” items, download an offline map (I recommend the app Maps.me), and start marking down all of your desired destinations. This little bit of pre-planning will help make your day trip to Kamakura from Tokyo less stressful and more productive. If you don’t get a chance to do that, pick up a map (in English) upon arrival into Kamakura.
Learn the Difference Between a Temple & a Shrine
You’re likely wondering what the difference between a temple and a shrine are since both are mentioned repeatedly. It’s actually a simple difference – they are from different religions. Temples are Buddhist. Shrines are Shinto. So this means that in addition to being connected to different religions, the prominent features and the way people worship will vary based on if it’s a temple or shrine. And now you know!
Know When to Acknowledge Temple and Shrine Fatigue
Traveling is fun! If you ever reach the point in the day where you are templed or shrined out, it’s okay! At some point it can become somewhat repetitive to go in all of them. This is when you needs to start picking and choosing those most important to you.
It’s kind of like going in every church you see in Europe and all of a sudden you don’t really want to pay for every church, just the famous ones because you’ve been churched out. It is possible that in just one day in Kamakura you will hit this point due to the high density of religious buildings.
Consider Taking a Tour
If the planning is all overwhelming for you, it may be worth taking a guided sightseeing tour of Kamakura. There are a lot of options for all budgets, from small group choices to private.
Train Options to Get from Tokyo to Kamakura
There are three great train options to travel from Tokyo to Kamakura. Just remember that “rush hour” on the trains in Tokyo tends to run from 7 am – 9 am. You could find yourself sharing the train with thousands of your favorite people.
JR Yokosubka Line
One of the best ways to get from Tokyo to Kamakura is to catch the JR Yokosuka Line at Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station, or Yokohama Station. It takes just under an hour to arrive at Kamakura or Kita-Kamakura Station and will run you right around ¥940.
JR Shonan Shinjuku Line
The next best option is to take the JR Shonan Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku Station to Kamakura Station. This route will also take right around an hour and cost you ¥940. It’s worth noting that only the trains bound for Zushi will take you directly to Kamakura. Otherwise you will need to transfer at Ofuna Station.
Odakyu’s Enoshima Kamakura Free Pass
The longest journey, but the most cost effective way to get to Kamakura is using Odakyu Railways with the Odakyu’s Enoshima Kamakura Free Pass. This pass includes the round trip from Shinjuku to Kamakura as well as unlimited usage of the Enoden train. Coming in at only ¥1520, you will save quite a bit of money. However, this route does take closer to 90 minutes.
Need More Time? Stay Overnight in Kamakura
If doing a day trip to Kamakura from Tokyo seems like a bit much, pack an overnight bag, and stay in Kamakura. There are plenty of accommodation options, and you’ll have more time to explore all of the beautiful shrines and temples that Kamakura has to offer.
Best Budget Accommodation Options
Find an affordable and clean place to spend the night in Kamakura to take the pressure off of seeing everything in just 1 day.
Fabulous Mid-Range Accommodation Options
Make your day trip to Kamakura a full escape from the bustling city of Tokyo by staying in a bit more luxury.
Plan More of Your Trip to Japan
Now that you know everything possible about taking a day trip to Kamakura from Tokyo, you can continue your planning for Japan. It’s a beautiful country and endless opportunities. Here are some posts to help you learn more about the top things to do around Japan, or you can view all posts about Japan to really get your trip moving!
