Kamakura Day Trip Itinerary From Tokyo: Shrines, Temples & Street Food!

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Today we’re sharing our Kamakura day trip itinerary complete with shrines, temples and plenty of street food! This coastal town in Kanagawa Prefecture is a super easy day trip from Tokyo and well worth a visit. 

We went on a lot of different day trips from Tokyo over the course of our month-long stay in the Japanese capital. There was Mount Takao in search of nature, Yokohama for street food, Odaiba for robots, and then Kamakura.

Nicknamed ‘the Kyoto of the East’, Kamakura is a laidback coastal city known for its many shrines and temples, so that’s exactly what we prioritized during our day trip. We did a whole lot of temple hopping visiting Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū, Kotoku-in, and Hasedera. Plus, we fueled our day with plenty of Japanese street food!

Here’s a little taste of what we got up to on our day trip to Kamakura.

Kamakura Travel Guide: Things to Do, See, Eat, Drink & Experience in Kamakura, Japan

Kamakura Day Trip: What to do on a day trip to Kamakura, Japan. That Backpacker Audrey Bernger posing by a large collection of giant sake bottles.

Getting to Kamakura from Tokyo

There are a few different ways to get from Tokyo to Kamakura.

JR Yokosuka Line: This line offers a direct connection from Tokyo Station to Kamakura Station. The journey takes just under an hour and costs 950 yen. The train also stops at other stations like Shinagawa and Yokohama​​.

JR Shonan Shinjuku Line: This line provides a direct connection between Shinjuku Station and Kamakura Station, with a travel time of about one hour and a cost of 950 yen. This was the option we went with to get to Kamakura. Note that only trains bound for Zushi offer a direct connection to Kamakura approximately every second train, or about two departures per hour. If you’re not on a direct train, you’ll need to transfer at Ofuna Station.

Odakyu Railway: For a more economical option, the Odakyu Railway offers the Enoshima Kamakura Free Pass. This pass includes a round trip between Shinjuku and Enoshima and unlimited use of the Enoden Line trains between Fujisawa, Enoshima, and Kamakura for 1640 yen. However, this route takes almost twice as long as the JR options. 

Visiting temples and shrines in Kamakura

There are plenty of shrines and temples to visit in Kamakura, but since we were only visiting on a day trip, we decided to focus on just 3:

Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū

The first place we visited was Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū, the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura and thankfully it was just a short walk from the train station.

The original shrine was built in the year 1063 (yes, almost a thousand years ago!), though, of course, it has been expanded and restored since then. This shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war, and the patron god of samurais.

Red torii at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū in Kamakura, Japan with school children gathered together

The shrine complex is known for its beautiful approach and surroundings, including a long street lined with cherry trees, leading up to the shrine’s main entrance. It features several buildings and structures of historical and cultural significance and is a popular spot for a variety of festivals and events throughout the year, including the famous Yabusame Festival, which is a horseback archery festival that dates back to the 12th century!

Ponds at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū in Kamakura with lots of lush green vegetation and red bridge views
Visiting the shrine of Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū in Kamakura, Japan
A wall of sake offerings at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū in Kamakura in a beautiful display case that is symmetrical
A walk through the grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū in Kamakura in Japan

This shrine had beautiful grounds, we walked through a red torii gate at the entrance, strolled along the ponds, saw a wall of sake offerings, and then climbed the steps to the main shrine within the grounds.

The temple was busy, especially with school groups who were visiting for the day, but it had little pockets of tranquillity.

Kotoku-in

From there, we backtracked to the train station and hopped on the Enoden Railway Line and travelled 3 stops over to Hase to visit Kotoku-in.

We visited the second largest Buddha in Japan at Kotoku-in on our Kamakura day trip framed by foliage
Visiting the Buddha in Kotoku-in, Kamakura entrance tickets held in hand
Large Buddha statue at Kotoku-in Temple in Kamakura from a unique vantage point in Japan

This temple is home to the second-largest Buddha in all of Japan which stands 11.4 meters tall (the largest is found in Nara).

The bronze Buddha is believed to date back to 1252 and it was preceded by a wooden Buddha. The Buddha was originally housed inside a temple, but that was destroyed by multiple typhoons and tidal waves, so it’s been in the open air since the late 15th century.

The bronze Buddha is hollow inside and it’s open to visitors, however, since we visited over the summer on a day of sweltering heat, setting foot inside the statue didn’t seem all that appealing!

Hasedera

The last temple we visited in Kamakura was Hasedera, which is a Buddhist temple famous for its large wooden statue of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. The statue is one of the largest wooden sculptures in Japan and stands at about 9 meters tall.

Hasedera is situated on a hillside and offers stunning views of the town and ocean. The temple is also renowned for its beautiful garden, which features a variety of flowers that bloom in different seasons, making it a picturesque spot throughout the year.

We happened to visit when the hydrangeas were in bloom and there were very long queues to view them. Visitors were assigned numbers and admitted in groups, but since we’re not ones to wait patiently in line for hours on end, we skipped the hydrangeas and explored the temple grounds instead.

Visiting Hasedera Temple on our day trip to Kamakura from Tokyo with many Buddha sculptures select bokeh
Entrance to the cave at Hasedera in Kamakura as framed by foliage in Japan
Hydrangeas in bloom at Hasedera in Kamkura macro details and natural beauty in Japan

The highlight was visiting the Benzaiten Grotto, which is a small cave network dedicated to Benzaiten, the sea goddess and the only female to form part of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese mythology.

The walls had carvings of the goddess as well as small statues lit by candles and placed in niches.

Carvings inside the cave at Hasedera in Kamakura with intricate details on display in Japan on a day trip from Tokyo

Visiting the cave is pretty easy as there’s a clear path to follow, just be aware that there will be some water dripping down from the walls and ceiling, and that you’ll also need to hunch over to get through the tunnel.

For more ideas of things to do in Kamakura, here’s a list of temples, shrines and historical sites to visit. There’s enough in Kamakura to keep you busy for a few days if you have the time!

Street Food in Kamakura

Aside from its temples and shrines, Kamakura is also a bit of a foodie destination with lots of street food on offer. In between all the sightseeing, we made time to walk the length of Komachi Street, which is a long pedestrian lane lined with small boutiques, souvenir shops and food vendors.

Going in search of street food on our Kamakura day trip along a busy pedestrian street in Japan

All you have to do to find this place is take the east exit from the main train station and look for the red torii which marks the start of the shopping street.

Here’s a list of some of the Japanese foods we sampled along the way:

Eating strawberry and custard mochi on our Kamakura day trip macro details of this sweet street food snack in Japan

Strawberry and Custard Mochi – ¥300

We ate lots of mochi during our trip to Japan, but this one was quite special! This plump mochi was stuffed with a sweet custard and topped with a perfect strawberry. It was delicious and a nice change from all the red bean mochis I had sampled up until then.

Trying omelette with whitebait in Kamakura - a popular street food snack on your day trip from Tokyo, Japan

Omelette with Whitebait – ¥250

One food item that Kamakura is known for is whitebait (tiny white fish) that make appearances in both savoury and sweet desserts. Sam tried the omelette with whitebait, which he found pretty tasty. However, for the more adventurous eater, we noticed soft-serve ice cream topped with whitebait! That was a first.

Eating street food desserts in Kamakura, Japan such as this fish shaped pastry with red bean paste inside

Apple and Cinnamon Taiyaki – ¥350

Taiyaki is a fish-shaped pancake that is generally stuffed with red bean paste, sweet potato or custard. While the batter generally resembles that of a fluffy pancake or a waffle, what drew us to this one is that it was quite buttery and flaky, a bit like millefeuille. This one was stuffed with apples and cinnamon and tasted a bit like an apple pie.

Trying warabimochi as street food in Kamakura that is served like a big popsicle on a tissue paper in Japan

Warabimochi – ¥250

We didn’t really know what we were having when we approached this particular food stand. “It’s like baby skin!” the shop owner told us as he jiggled a honey-coloured jelly, rolled it in roasted soybean flour and then placed it on a skewer. It turns out this was a dessert made from bracken starch – slightly different from mochi which is made from glutinous rice, but surprisingly tasty.

Black Sesame Soy Milk ice cream signboard in Kamakura on a day trip from Tokyo, Japan

Black Sesame and Soy Milk Ice Cream – ¥380

As we were walking down Komachi-dori, we came across a shop specializing in all things sesame. Since they were handing out free samples, we decided to walk in and have a look around the store and also sample their ice cream. We got a black sesame soy milk ice cream that was covered in roasted sesame. Sam thought it tasted a bit salty and nutty, but worth trying!

Eating cheese korokke in Kamakura's walking street with its flaky exterior is a high calorie street food snack in Japan

Cheese Korokke – ¥180

For a savoury street food snack, we decided to try the cheese korokke, which is basically the Japanese version of a croquette. It was a potato and cheese mash, coated in breadcrumbs and then deep-fried. The cheese was a nice addition.

Cooling down with Matcha and Purple Sweet Potato Ice Cream on our day trip to Kamakura with That Backpacker Audrey Bergner holding the cone

Matcha and Purple Sweet Potato Ice Cream – ¥350

And because we visited Kamakura in the middle of summer and were melting, we stopped for a second ice cream cone! This time, we went for the matcha and purple sweet potato. Out of all the soft-serve ice creams we had in Japan, the purple sweet potato had the mildest flavour, but it was very refreshing so no complaints there.

Walking around on our Kamakura day trip and seeing impressive gates along the way in Japan

And that pretty much sums up our day trip to Kamakura.

Is Kamakura worth visiting?

Kamakura is a really fun and easy day trip from Tokyo and it’s worth doing to experience a different side of Japan. 

I would have liked to spend even longer in Kamakura to visit a few more temples and even make it down to the beach, but as I mentioned, we were visiting in the middle of summer and it was so hot and humid that by mid-afternoon, we called it quits and returned to our air-conditioned apartment.

I bet if we’d visited in spring or autumn, we would have been able to cram a bit more into our day trip, but nevertheless, it was a nice visit.

I’ll now leave you guys with a video of our day trip to Kamakura:

 

Kamakura Trip Planner: Smart Routes, Gear & Good-To-Know Tips

You’ve got the highlights down—Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū, the Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in and Hasedera. Plus a delicious stroll along Komachi-dōri.

Kamakera Hasedera temple tickets in hand of That Backpacker Audrey Bergner in Japan

When to go (and what you’ll see)

  • Late March–early April (sakura): The approach to Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū is lined with cherry trees; the promenade becomes a pink tunnel. Expect crowds—arrive early.
  • June (hydrangea season): Hasedera and Meigetsu-in (nicknamed Ajisai-dera, “Hydrangea Temple”) explode in blues and purples. Many temples run timed entry; lines snake but move.
  • September–October: Warm seas + fewer crowds = best combo for beach time at Yuigahama/Zaimokuza and golden hour at Inamuragasaki.
  • Mid-November–early December (kōyō foliage): Maple reds around Engaku-ji, Kenchō-ji and the Daibutsu hiking trail.
  • Festival watch: Yabusame (horseback archery) rides into Hachiman-gū each April and September. Hatsumōde (New Year’s first shrine visit) packs the town Jan 1–3.
Kamakura metro station signboard with east and west exits in Japan

Getting around (without wasting steps)

  • Two rails rule Kamakura days: JR lines get you in; the Enoden (Enoshima Electric Railway) shuttles you between Kamakura ⇄ Hase ⇄ Gokurakuji ⇄ Inamuragasaki ⇄ Enoshima with sea peeks between houses.
  • One-way loop I love: Walk Kamakura Station → Komachi-dōri → Hachiman-gū, then return to the station and hop Enoden to Hase for Kōtoku-in and Hasedera. Continue to Inamuragasaki for sunset, then ride back.
  • Lockers: Kamakura Station (east & west exits) has coin lockers; so does Hase. Handy if you’re beach-bound or carrying picnic gear.
  • IC cards (Suica, PASMO, etc.) tap through both JR and Enoden; keep small coins for temple admission and snacks.
Kamakura historic drum at a temple in Japan

Pocket Checklist Cheat Sheet

ItemWhy It HelpsUse It When
Compact rain shellSudden coastal squallsSummer afternoons, typhoon season.
Sun hat + SPF 50 stickStrong UV even on hazy daysOpen courts at Kōtoku-in & beach walks.
Light gloves / sleevesModesty & sun/chill controlShrine visits; breezy cliff overlooks.
Electrolyte tabsHeat + humidity helperRefill your bottle at konbini drink machines.
Hand towel (tenugui)Temple ablutions / sweatChōzuya (purification basin) etiquette.
Small coin pouchFast admission / goshuin feesMany windows are cash-only & exact change wins.
Goshuin-chō (stamp book)Beautiful calligraphy souvenirAsk “Goshuin onegai shimasu” at temple offices.
Portable batteryPhotos + maps + train timesYou’ll shoot a lot more than you think.
Compact umbrellaShade + rain double-dutyLanes are narrow—think small, not golf.
Spare maskSome indoor sights still prefer themMuseums, crowded trains at rush hour.
Kamakura sesame seeds on display for purchase in Japan

At-a-Glance Day Plan (stress-free loop)

TimeFocusWhereTiny Tip
08:15Ride inShinjuku/Tokyo → Kamakura (JR)Sit left facing the front for sea views near Ofuna.
09:15Warm-up wanderKomachi-dōriStart with a savory bite (cheese korokke) before sweets.
10:00Big shrine energyTsurugaoka Hachiman-gūClimb the grand stairs for city views + wide photos.
11:15Souvenir pauseKomachi-dōri back lanePick up Hato Saburē cookies near the torii.
11:45Train hopEnoden → Hase (3 stops)Grab the front car—best windows for coastal peeks.
12:00Great BuddhaKōtoku-inMidday sun bounces—polarizing filter helps.
12:45LunchHase areaTry shirasu-don (whitebait bowl) or veggie curry near the station.
13:45Gardens + cavesHasederaFollow signs to the Benzaiten Grotto; mind the low ceiling.
15:15Optional hikeStart Daibutsu Trail (from behind Kōtoku-in)Closed after heavy rain; sneakers with grip.
16:45Sea breezeInamuragasaki ParkCalm cove + Mt. Fuji silhouette on clear days.
18:10ReturnEnoden back to KamakuraStop at Gokurakuji if you collect filming locations.
19:00Train outJR back to TokyoSnacks for the ride: sesame soft-serve or taiyaki for dessert.
Kamakura metro station signboard with Japanese, Korean and English language information

Passes & fares (quick compare)

PassWhat it coversWhen it’s worth itBuy it
Enoshima–Kamakura Freepass (Odakyu)Round-trip Shinjuku ⇄ Fujisawa (Odakyu) + unlimited EnodenYou’re starting from Shinjuku and will bounce across multiple Enoden stops (Hase + Inamuragasaki + Enoshima).Odakyu counters at Shinjuku.
Enoden 1-Day Pass (Noriorikun)Unlimited Enoden rides onlyYou’re already in Kamakura or coming via JR and plan multiple hops.Enoden stations.
Plain IC card (Suica/PASMO)Tap-and-go on JR + Enoden; small discounts over paper faresYou prefer flexibility; doing a simple out-and-back with 1–2 hops.Any major station ticket machine.
Black sesame ice cream macro details on a day trip from Tokyo to Kamakura in Japan

Eat well beyond Komachi-dōri

I love the street-food crawl, but if you’d like a sit-down or dietary options:

  • Shirasu-don (whitebait bowl): Many Hase-area spots offer it raw (nama) or boiled (kama-age). If raw makes you hesitate, half-and-half is a happy medium.
  • Curry & veg-friendly: Look for little cafés near Hase Station that do vegetable curries, tofu hamburg steaks or shōjin ryōri-inspired sets (Buddhist temple cuisine).
  • Wagashi + tea: Traditional sweet shops around Hachiman-gū serve warabimochi and anmitsu with a bowl of matcha—perfect mid-day pause.
  • Coffee fixes: Third-wave cafés dot Komachi’s side streets; keep an eye out for pour-over bars with cozy tatami rooms upstairs.
Unique Japanese vintage car in Kamakura, Japan

Budget the day (sample, per adult)

  • JR Tokyo ⇄ Kamakura (IC fares): about ¥950 each way
  • Enoden hops (IC): ¥200–¥330 per hop (or day pass if you’re bouncing a lot)
  • Admissions: Kōtoku-in ¥300, Hasedera ¥400–¥500, many others ¥200–¥500
  • Lunch set: ¥900–¥1,500
  • Street snacks + drinks: ¥1,000–¥1,500 (depending on how many cones you “accidentally” order)
  • Goshuin calligraphy: ¥300–¥500 each (optional)

You can do a delicious, temple-rich day for ¥4,500–¥7,000, not counting souvenirs.

Kamakura giant buddha head macro details in Japan

“Just one more temple?”—7 fast add-ons

  1. Engaku-ji (north): Zen calm and a handsome bell tower. Easy from Kita-Kamakura Station.
  2. Kenchō-ji: Oldest Zen training monastery in Kamakura; enormous Sanmon gate.
  3. Meigetsu-in: Round “Window of Enlightenment” framing seasonal gardens (famously hydrangeas).
  4. Hōkoku-ji: Intimate bamboo grove + matcha set under the trees.
  5. An’yō-in: Mossy steps; often quiet even in peak seasons.
  6. Goryō Jinja: Small shrine with trains sliding past—rail and shrine in one frame.
  7. Inamuragasaki Park: Not a temple, but the best Fuji-chance sunset stage on crisp winter days.
Rickshaw ride to get around Kamakura, Japan on a day tour

Have you been to Kamakura on a day trip in Japan?
Which attractions did you visit?

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5 Comments

  1. says: Lucian

    Kamakura seems a really interesting place to visit. Food looks really special.

  2. Thank you for sharing your information, Kamakura is a really nice place to visit and the food looks really unique.

  3. says: Markus

    Never really knew about this amazing place. Loved it!

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