day trip: kamakura
Kamakura is a great day trip from Tokyo because it requires very little planning beforehand. I know this from experience, because I went with very little planning. What was supposed to be a couple days in Hakone ended up being rained out, and while more days in Tokyo are never something to complain about, it was nice to do a low key, low effort getaway and change of scenery for a day and Kamakura hit the mark.
Kamakura is a historic town an hour out from Tokyo, on the picturesque coast. It’s laid back, quaint, even while crowded, a place to meander, wander in and out of shops, sample street eats, see the sights, and then head back on your merry way back into the city at sundown.
It’s a wonderful escape from the neon lights of the city, explore temples, shrines, historical sites and cultural streets. It’s easy to get around on foot or local transit, and all the main sightseeing is close enough to see all in one day, and weather permitting, complemented by a walk along the coast.
There’s plenty to do that can fill a day. Here’s an easy, lazy itinerary.
Catch a morning train from Shinjuku. Once in Kamakura, grab coffee at Oxymoron Komachi or Iwata Coffee Shop, or go straight for a Japanese curry rice lunch at Caraway.
TSURUGOAKA HACHIMAN-GU SHRINE
The Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine is a cultural center of Kamakura, and an important historic site. Nearly a thousand years old, it was built as a Hachiman shrine to honor Emperor Ojin, and later served as a Tendai Buddhist Temple. Over the centuries, its survived the elements and has been maintained beautifully. The complex sits atop a long set of stairs, and is surrounded by beautiful gardens, a museum, and a large hall for performances and ceremonies.
The entrance is marked by a set of torii gates, followed by a set of bridges and two Genpei ponds, covered in lily pads, and making for a tranquil walk into the heart of the shrine.
KOMACHI-DORI
Like many tourist towns, Kamakura has a main street filled with cute shops and restaurants tailored for visitors. Komachi-dori is a bustling street on weekends, lined with souvenir shops, traditional Japanese sweet shops, and vendors serving up street food and local specialties like Kamakura-style ramen.
All in all the street makes for great grazing as you peruse the handicrafts. Perhaps stop for a tea pick me up.
The street is bustling with pedestrians on the weekends, but particularly vibrant during the annual Kamakura Matsuri festival when the street is filled with food stalls and street performers and lively festivities that extend into the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine.
KOTOKU-IN TEMPLE
And then hop on a train to Hase and stop by one more spot. One of the most popular, recognizable attractions in Kamakura is the Kotoku-in Temple, home to the iconic Great Buddha statue. This towering bronze statue is over 44 feet tall and dates back to the 13th century. The statue has an observation deck where visitors can climb up and enjoy the view, but honestly the sights on ground level are plenty, with serene gardens and shrines throughout the temple.
All in all, Kamakura unlocks a certain charm that comes with the distance from urban sprawl. The pretty shop fronts and prettily packaged goods make you want to buy things you definitely don’t need. Which is to say, they do their job well.
GETTING HERE
Kamakura is an easy one hour train ride from Shinjuku on the Limited Express Romancecar. The views are picturesque along the journey. At Fujisawa, it’s an easy transfer to the Enoshima Electric Railway that takes you to the main tourist points in the area.
SOME HELPFUL LINKS
[ Last Edited: 12.2023 | Last Visited:05.2018 ]
see also
EVERYTHING I ATE IN TOKYO
SNAPSHOTS FROM TOKYO