The Great Buddha (Daibutsu) in Kamakura, Japan

Things to do in  Kamakura

Buddha meets beaches

Visitors to Japan tend to head to Kansai for the culture and Kanto for the modern urban experience. But the small city of Kamakura—an hour south of Tokyo and smack dab in the middle of Kanto—ticks all the cultural boxes. Kamakura was the capital of Japan between the 12th and 14th centuries, so is home to a wealth of traditional temples, shrines, gardens, and one mighty large Buddha, the Daibutsu. It’s a popular day-trip destination from Tokyo but there are so many things to do in Kamakura that it’s worth hanging around a while.

Learn more

Top 3 attractions in Kamakura

#1

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

star-5452
With a long history dating back to 1063, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura, and the spiritual and cultural heart of the city. Dedicated to Hachiman, the patron saint of samurais, the complex contains several shrines and museums, and is a popular venue for festivals, weddings, and other events.More
Tours & Tickets
#2

Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Kamakura)

star-5474
Made in the 13th century, the imposing Great Buddha of Kamakura can be found inside the Kotoku-in temple complex in the seaside city of Kamakura. It’s the second-largest Buddha in Japan and a popular tourist attraction.More
Tours & Tickets
#3

Engaku-ji Temple

star-5182
Engaku-ji, one of the most important Zen Buddhist temples in Japan, is considered by some to be an almost-perfect example of Chinese-inspired Zen architecture. It was founded in 1282 by a Chinese monk and is now classified as a Japanese National Treasure. Located in Kamakura, it’s a convenient place to visit on a day trip from Tokyo.More
Tours & Tickets

Explore Kamakura by interest

Top activities in Kamakura

Kamakura Half Day Walking Tour with Kotokuin Great Buddha

Kamakura Half Day Walking Tour with Kotokuin Great Buddha

star-5
94
From
$116.28
Your Own HANKO Name Seal Activity in Kamakura.

Your Own HANKO Name Seal Activity in Kamakura.

star-5
12
From
$77.52
Kamakura Full-Day Private Tour

Kamakura Full-Day Private Tour

star-5
2
From
$161.49
Kamakura and Eastern Kyoto with Lots of Temples and Shrines

Kamakura and Eastern Kyoto with Lots of Temples and Shrines

star-4
1
From
$226.09
Private Car Tour to see Highlights of Kamakura, Enoshima, Yokohama from Tokyo

Private Car Tour to see Highlights of Kamakura, Enoshima, Yokohama from Tokyo

star-5
29
From
$1,065.86
per group
Fuji Shibasakura Festival in Golden week Private Day Tour.
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Fuji Shibasakura Festival in Golden week Private Day Tour.

star-5
78
From
$500.00
per group
3 Hour Japanese Culture Tour in Kamakura Temples

3 Hour Japanese Culture Tour in Kamakura Temples

From
$109.82
Kamakura Custom Half Day Tour

Kamakura Custom Half Day Tour

star-5
1
From
$129.19
Kamakura Rickshaw Tour

Kamakura Rickshaw Tour

star-5
53
From
$38.76
Kamakura Kimono Experience 6 hrs Tour with Licensed Guide

Kamakura Kimono Experience 6 hrs Tour with Licensed Guide

From
$171.18
Kamakura Historical Hiking Tour with the Great Buddha

Kamakura Historical Hiking Tour with the Great Buddha

star-5
27
From
$87.21
Kamakura Walking Tour - The City of Shogun

Kamakura Walking Tour - The City of Shogun

star-5
17
From
$100.00
Full Day Private Discovering Tour in Kamakura

Full Day Private Discovering Tour in Kamakura

From
$152.87
Introducing all the Famous Spots in Kamakura and Enoshima!

Introducing all the Famous Spots in Kamakura and Enoshima!

star-5
5
From
$124.35
Private Kamakura and Enoshima Day Tour from Tokyo

Private Kamakura and Enoshima Day Tour from Tokyo

From
$193.79
Kamakura: Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO

Kamakura: Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO

star-5
16
From
$37.00
Historic Kamakura: Temples, Shrines and Street Food Private Walking Tour
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Historic Kamakura: Temples, Shrines and Street Food Private Walking Tour

star-5
1
From
$211.88
Craft Your Own HANKO Name Seal Activity in Kamakura Japan

Craft Your Own HANKO Name Seal Activity in Kamakura Japan

From
$516.65
Homemade Sushi and Supermarket Tour in Kamakura

Homemade Sushi and Supermarket Tour in Kamakura

star-5
1
From
$56.85
Kamakura Private Photoshoot Tour ( Optional Kimono wearing )

Kamakura Private Photoshoot Tour ( Optional Kimono wearing )

star-5
2
From
$64.60
See all Kamakura tours

All about Kamakura

When to visit

Like most of Japan, spring (March–May) and fall (September—November) are the most popular times to visit Kamakura. The weather is generally dry and mild, and beautiful flowers and foliage bloom in the parks and grounds of the temples and shrines. It’s also really busy then. Although summer can be uncomfortable, Kamakura’s sandy beaches, ocean, and sea breezes provide respite from the heat and humidity.

Getting around

Kamakura isn’t very big so it’s easy to explore on foot or by rental bicycle, and there are also local buses. To reach the beaches, the Enoden (Enoshima Electric Railway) is a handy option as it connects Kamakura Station with Enoshima and Fujisawa. The Enoshima Kamakura Free Pass includes unlimited use of the Enoden trains and connects Kamakura/Enoshima with Shinjuku in Tokyo. It’s the cheapest way of reaching Kamakura from Tokyo, but these trains take longer than the JR trains.

Traveler tips

Although it’s common to visit Kamakura on a day trip from Tokyo, a couple of days is preferable if you want to see the cultural sites and Enoshima, an island with pretty sandy beaches. Avoid the weekends if you’d rather not be packed tight into the Enoden electric train on the way out there, but it’s easy to get to the island.

Attractions
3
Tours
39
Reviews
355
EN
6f306200-9ea9-4ac9-bd35-6a4a61751896
geo_hub

People Also Ask

Is Kamakura, Japan worth visiting?

Yes, Kamakura is worth visiting and is one of the most popular day trip destinations from Tokyo. Kamakura is home to many interesting temples and shrines, as well as the famous Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at Kōtoku-in. There are also beaches nearby that are good for swimming and surfing.

...More
How many days do you need for Kamakura?

Although you can see some of Kamakura’s highlights—namely Kotoku-in and Hasedera Temples and Hachimangu Shrine—in a day, a 2-day trip lets you visit more of Kamakura’s ancient cultural attractions and natural spots without rushing. It’s also good to experience the town in the evening after the day-trippers have gone.

...More
Why is Kamakura popular?

Kamakura is a popular tourist destination because it has so many beautiful and interesting cultural sites. Plus, it’s close enough to Tokyo to visit on a day trip. Tokyo itself lacks visible ancient culture because of its destruction in World War II, so Kamakura is an ideal destination for history buffs.

...More
Is Kamakura a day trip from Tokyo?

Yes, Kamakura is an easy day trip from Tokyo. Kamakura is about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from central Tokyo, which takes around an hour on the train or 1.5 hours if driving. There are many hotels in Kamakura if you want to stay the night, but it’s also easy to return to Tokyo.

...More
Can you see Mt. Fuji from Kamakura?

Yes, you can sometimes see Mt. Fuji from Kamakura as the mountain is about 56 miles (90 kilometers) due west of the town. When the weather is clear–most often in winter or after a thunderstorm–one of the best places to see Mt. Fuji from Kamakura is Fueda Park atop Mt. Kamakura.

...More
How long is the train from Tokyo to Kamakura?

The quickest way to get from Tokyo to Kamakura by train is to take the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station, a 1-hour journey. If you’re staying around Shinjuku it may be faster to take the JR Shonan Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku Station. There are usually only two trains per hour on this line as you’ll need to catch one bound for Zushi.

...More
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What are the top things to do in Kamakura?
A:
Q:
What are the top activities in Kamakura?
A:
Q:
What are the top things to do near Kamakura?
A:
Check out things to do near Kamakura:

More Tours in Kamakura