No. 8 25 Classic Day Trips from Great Cities 2026

Kamakura

Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan · Day trip from Tokyo

A seaside former capital of Zen temples, shrines and the Great Buddha.

Photo: Alexandar Vujadinovic, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Kamakura was the seat of Japan's first shogunate in the 12th and 13th centuries. Today it is a coastal town south of Tokyo with dozens of temples and shrines set against wooded hills.

Its best-known sight is the Great Buddha of Kōtoku-in, a bronze statue sitting in the open air. Hiking trails link temples along the hills, and the town has sandy beaches.

View of the city of Kamakura during summer, Kamakura, Japan. Photo: WorldContributor, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Kamakura from above. Photo: Daniel M. Dobkin, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Kamakura: Kamakura. Photo: Martin Abegglen from Bern, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0, source

Best time to visit

Spring, early summer (hydrangeas around June) and autumn are popular. Weekends and holidays are crowded.

Highlights

1

Great Buddha (Kōtoku-in)

A bronze Amida Buddha over 11 m tall.
2

Tsurugaoka Hachimangū

The town's main shrine, at the end of a long avenue.
3

Hase-dera

A hillside temple with gardens and sea views.
4

Engaku-ji and Kenchō-ji

Major Zen temples in Kita-Kamakura.
5

Enoshima

A nearby island reached on the small Enoden railway.

Getting there

JR trains from Tokyo to Kamakura take about 1 hour. The Enoden line runs from Kamakura to Hase (for the Great Buddha) and Enoshima.

Practical tips

Opening & tickets: Opening times, ticket rules and transport timetables change, so check official information before you go.
Time needed: A full day.