If you're looking for a scenic and fun day trip that is an hour away from Tokyo then Kamakura should be on your list! In this guide, we will give a list of things to do, places to see and food to try to make the most out of your day trip here!

This place is a bonus for all you Slam Dunk fans as well!

Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan

How to travel Kamakura in a day

This will really depend on where in Tokyo you will be based if you will be based there at all to begin with. 

Okay, now the "hard" part is over, time to begin the fun part!

We listed these places based on how we visited them but feel free to switch them around!

Do note that most restaurants close early in this area so either come early or bring food with you! We were here during the tail end of summer transitioning into autumn.

For us, we took the train! It takes about an hour or so to get there from Tokyo. A quick tip, ask the train operators or the helpdesk at the stations because there is a possibility that you need to switch trains like we did.

This spot is a bus ride away from the temple, it will take about 15 minutes or more before reaching Komachi Street.

We went to this temple first because according to our research, this is one of the most popular places to visit in Kamakura and it tends to get very crowded so we wanted to make sure that we would get our chance to see it as early as possible!

How to get here: Take the train from Kamakura Station (Enoden Line) and get off at Hase Station and then from there, it is about a 7 minute walk to the entrance of the temple.

If you want to explore the inside of the Buddha statue, yes the inside! You just need to add ¥50 per person and you get access to the interior of the statue of Buddha. It's kind of a cool experience but not in temperature because it gets hot in there!

***Do note that if you are claustrophobic or don't do well in confined spaces, we suggest you skip this as it is quite hot inside and you will not be the only people entering.***

We stayed at the temple grounds for about 30-45 minutes, this should be enough to immerse but feel free to stay longer! 

Before heading to the next destination, which requires you to take the bus, please take note of the bus stop so you don't get lost. You can also walk but it will take longer. You can also go by taxi or via ride-hailing application. You can also opt to take the train which involves a walk back to the station where you came from.

Once you get off the bus, brace yourself as you will be immediately overwhelmed by all of the food options on your left and right. If you read our free guide, you can easily try all the local food that Kamakura has to offer by walking this street! If you're going to buy from the street food vendors, do take note that there will be no places for you to sit unless you are dining in an actual restaurant or cafe.

At the end of this street, you will be walking distance from the next stop!

After filling your tummies at the previous destination, you should have enough energy for this walking filled stop! There are a few ways to get up to the main area, we took the one directly in front.

When we visited, there were a few stalls that were selling food and souvenirs but we're uncertain if these are permanent spots. 

But if you're looking for a place to relax and recharge after all the walking, there is a cafe within this area called Tsurugaoka Museum Cafe & Shop. Where we spent 15-20 mins to rest from all the walking.

At the top, if it's your thing, they have a store where you can buy Omikuji (Fortunes) and Omamori (Charms).

To get to the next spot, we decided to take the "scenic route" which was a very long walk, about 30-45 minutes. You can also get here via taxi or ride-hailing app.

The walk going here is a nice one because you can see a lot of local shops that sell a variety of things that you can take home. Walking through a rural area in Japan is always a good idea if you enjoy taking in the scenery and the local vibe.

NOTE: There are a bunch of uphill areas so be prepared. They are pretty steep but manageable.

A short story about this shrine courtesy of Google!

"Zeniarai Benten Shrine is a popular shrine in western Kamakura, which people visit to wash their money. It is said that money washed in the shrine's spring, will double."

Don't forget to follow the instructions and practices when visiting shrines and temples. Google will tell you what you need to know.

From here, you need to walk back to Kamakura Station and hop on a train that will take you to the famous Kamakurakōkō-Mae Station!

Once you get off, you can now explore on foot! We went a little late so taking photos was a bit difficult as it was already dark so if you can come early, that would be better if you want to take photos!

Here is a food recommendation if you want to eat something with a home cooked feeling! It's about a 12 minute walk from Kamakurakōkō-Mae Station and it's also very near a train station!

We're adding a list of places that you can also visit that we didn't get a chance to do so!

Check out our free guide to see our personal ratings for these!

https://www.thatch.co/guide/1i9vfe2s91qyr/view?s=LBUEQ8RpavdPv4waBN0WagTPrkq1&s_f=m_g&s_t=c_l&s_b=n

How to travel Kamakura in a day

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