Great Buddha, temples & surf beaches
Kamakura
鎌倉 · Seaside shrines & the Great Buddha
A former samurai capital by the sea, an hour from Tokyo. Kamakura wraps ancient temples and a colossal bronze Buddha in wooded hills above a surf coast — a soulful, laid-back escape reached on a nostalgic seaside tram.
Top sightsSights
Great Buddha (Kotoku-in)
A serene 13m bronze Buddha seated in the open air since 1252 — Kamakura’s icon.
Hase-dera
A hillside temple of gardens, sea views and a golden eleven-headed Kannon.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
The grand shrine at the heart of old Kamakura, approached by a long ceremonial avenue.
Enoden tram & Enoshima
Ride the vintage coastal tram to the shrine island of Enoshima.
Hokoku-ji bamboo grove
A tranquil temple with a dense bamboo forest and matcha teahouse.
What to eatFood
Shirasu-don
A rice bowl topped with tiny fresh or boiled whitebait — the local catch.
Kamakura vegetables
Prized local produce served in the town’s many cafes.
Murasaki-imo sweets
Purple-sweet-potato treats sold along Komachi-dori.
Good to know
- Buy an Enoden day pass to hop the coastal temples and Enoshima.
- Komachi-dori is the main snack-and-souvenir street from the station.
- Weekends are busy; arrive early for the Great Buddha and Hase-dera.
Getting there
About 1 hour from Tokyo by JR Yokosuka Line; connect to the Enoden for the coast.
Next city
Nikko