Kamakura walking tour & city guide

The Great Buddha and the temples

Kamakura's most famous sight is the Great Buddha of Kotoku-in, a bronze statue about 11 meters tall that has sat in the open air since a tsunami destroyed its hall in the 15th century. Nearby, Hase-dera temple climbs a hillside with gardens, caves and views over the sea, and is especially beautiful during the June hydrangea season.

In the town center, a long approach leads to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, the city's most important shrine, founded by the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo. The northern district of Kita-Kamakura is home to great Zen temples like Engaku-ji and Kencho-ji, set among wooded hills.

Komachi-dori, the Enoden and the coast

Komachi-dori, the busy shopping street leading from Kamakura Station toward the shrine, is lined with snack stalls, sweet shops and souvenir stores. The Enoshima Electric Railway, or Enoden, runs from Kamakura along the coast; its crossing near Kamakurakokomae Station, with the sea in the background, became famous from anime.

The line ends near Enoshima, a small island linked to the mainland by a bridge, with shrines, caves, a lighthouse observation tower and, on clear days, views of Mount Fuji across the bay.

Visiting tips

Kamakura is an easy day trip from Tokyo or Yokohama. Weekends and holidays are very crowded, so go on a weekday if possible. In summer, Yuigahama and Shichirigahama beaches attract swimmers and surfers.