A Perfect Day Trip to Kamakura from Tokyo
If you’re looking for an easy day trip from Tokyo, I can’t recommend Kamakura enough. This charming coastal city is full of historic temples, beautiful gardens, and a more relaxed atmosphere than Tokyo. It ended up being one of my favorite day trips in Japan.
We took a regular JR train from Shinjuku Station, and there was no need to book tickets in advance. The journey takes about an hour, making Kamakura an easy destination to add to your itinerary.
Once we arrived at Kamakura Station, we caught one of the local buses right outside the station. Bus numbers 23, 24, and 36 all stop near Hokokuji Temple, and the ride takes around 15 minutes.
Hokokuji Temple and the Bamboo Forest
Our first stop was Hokokuji Temple, famous for its peaceful bamboo grove.
We purchased the admission ticket that included a traditional matcha tea experience for ¥1,000. One important tip: bring cash, as tickets can only be purchased with cash.
As soon as we walked through the entrance, we were welcomed by beautifully maintained gardens before reaching the bamboo forest itself.
Having visited the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto, I honestly preferred Hokokuji. Although it’s smaller, it’s much quieter, making it easier to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and take photos without large crowds.
After exploring the grounds, we sat down for a cup of freshly prepared matcha overlooking the bamboo grove. It was such a relaxing experience and one of my favorite moments of the day. Just keep in mind that the tea house serves matcha only, so don’t expect a full café menu.
The Great Buddha of Kamakura
Next, we hopped back on the bus and made our way to the Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoku-in).
Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side that day, but it didn’t take away from the experience. Standing in front of the enormous bronze Buddha is truly impressive, and seeing it up close gives you a real appreciation for its scale and history.
Hasedera Temple
From there, we walked over to Hasedera Temple, and this ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the day.
The temple grounds are much larger than I expected, with beautiful gardens, historic buildings, caves, museums, and countless statues to explore. There’s also an observation deck overlooking Kamakura and the coastline, which I can imagine is even more spectacular on a clear day.
If you’re visiting Kamakura, I definitely recommend setting aside enough time to wander through the entire complex rather than rushing through it.
Riding the Enoden
On our way back, we decided to take the Enoden (Enoshima Electric Railway), the charming retro tram that’s become one of Kamakura’s most recognizable attractions.
To be honest, this was probably the only part of the day I wouldn’t go out of my way to repeat. The train was extremely crowded, so we couldn’t really enjoy the views, and the ride itself is fairly short. If you’ve never ridden it before, it’s still a fun experience, but I wouldn’t consider it a must-do.
Komachi Street
Before heading back to Tokyo, we spent some time exploring Komachi Street, located just a few minutes’ walk from Kamakura Station.
It’s the perfect place to end your day. The lively pedestrian street is lined with souvenir shops, local boutiques, and plenty of food stalls serving everything from traditional Japanese snacks to sweet treats.
One stop you absolutely can’t miss is Giraffa Curry Pan. We tried curry bread in many places, and this was hands down our favorite. Perfectly crispy on the outside, warm and flavorful on the inside.
If you only have time for a day trip from Tokyo, make it Kamakura. It offers the perfect combination of history, beautiful temples, peaceful gardens, incredible food, and coastal charm, all less than an hour from the city. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan, and I’d recommend it to anyone.
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