The Best Day Trip from Tokyo: Kamakura, Japan
Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Tokyo? Kamakura is only a 1.5-hour train ride from the capital city of Japan, making it the best day trip from Tokyo. Originally a small fishing village, it transitioned to the second capital of Japan during the Kamakura period and eventually gained its reputation as a tourist centre. Located by the sea, Kamakura offers countless temples and shrines, as well as historic landmarks including the Great Buddha.
Read on for a one-day itinerary of Kamakura.
How to get to Kamakura from Tokyo:
You can take the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station to Kamakura Station. The trip includes stops at Shinagawa, Yokohama, and Kita-Kamakura stations, lasts approximately one hour, and costs 950 yen.
Alternatively, if you coming from the Shinjuku area, you can take the JR Shonan Shinjuku Line, which connects Shinjuku to Kamakura Station. This also takes about an hour and costs 950 yen.
You can use your Suica or PASMO card for these rides. Refer to Google Maps to check how many stops it is and double-check how much the ride costs.
What to do in Kamakura:
Visit the Maruyama Inari Shrine
The Maruyama Inari Shrine is the oldest shrine on the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu grounds in Kamakura. It is free to visit and wander around the grounds. Walk around the Heike Pond and Genji Pond located on the grounds as well.
Try all the local foods and drinks along Komachi-dori Street
You can find everything along Komachi-dori Street. There are many street vendors selling various sweets and snacks as well as souvenirs. This street is always crowded, and it has been calculated that about 18 million people visit each year.
Visit Kotoku-in where you’ll see the Great Buddha statue
The Great Buddha stands on the grounds of Kotoku-in Temple, which costs 300 yen for adults. Its name lives up to its height, as the statue is 11.31 meters tall and weighs 121 tons.
You can enter the Great Buddha and see its interior for an additional 50 yen per person.
Wander over to Kamakura Yuigahama Beach
There are three main beaches in Kamakura: Yuigahama, Zaimokuza, and Koshigoe. The most convenient beach is Yuigahama as it is only a short walk from the center of the city.
On a clear day, you can see Mt. Fuji from the beach. In the summer, there are many cafes and bars open along the beach.
Check out the Hokokuji Temple, known for its bamboo garden
My favorite part of Kamakura was easily the Hokokuji Temple, a small temple of the Rinzai Sect of Zen Buddhism. This beautiful oasis is known for its bamboo forest behind the temple’s main hall. You’ll immediately feel transported to a peaceful retreat enveloped by tranquil gardens and bamboo.
