Kamakura + Enoshima | Itinerary

Kamakura + Enoshima | Itinerary

Laura Murray
Check out some well known and lesser known temples and gardens around the Kamakura and Enoshima area. This beach town is known for a laid back vibe filled with beautiful greenery, temples, surfing and cafes.
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Kamakura Area

Temple Run Day

Hop on a bus heading towards the area around Hokokuji. The temple opens at 9am.

Hokokuji Temple
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Bamboo garden temple. Opens at 9am. 400 yen entry to garden. 600 yen fee for matcha café with bamboo views.
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There's two other nice stops in the area if you want to check them out before heading off to the next area. 

Sugimoto Temple
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Quiet old temple with a moss filled staircase. 300 yen entry.
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Ichijo Ekan Sanso
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Small beautiful garden. No kids allowed. 1500 yen entry, Café attached that has sporadic opening days.
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Take a 30 min bus ride to the next area. First stop is a shrine to wash your money at.

Zeniarai Benten Shrine
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Shrine in a cave where you can buy a basket to wash your money. The money-washing is said to cause money to be doubled.
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Take a detour through this ancient trail that takes you through the back way to Sasuke Inari Shrine.

Daibutsu Kiridoshi Pass
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Mountain road connecting shrines during the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE). It was used as a transportation route and a defense mechanism.
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Sasuke Inari Shrine
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Small shrine with Toriis and fox figures.. Access the shrine from Daibutsu Kindoshi Pass.
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Café time! Either pop out of the shrine to check out Cyan, or continue walking along the trail until you reach Cheers.

CYAN KAMAKURA
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Café serving coffee, meal sets, and sesame dumplings. Good garden area to eat in.
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CHEEERS COFFEE
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Modern café serving coffee, sandwiches, and baked goods. Cute cups for the iced espresso drinks.
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Kotoku-in
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Famous temple with a massive Buddha. 300 yen entry. You can also enter the Buddha if you line up. The mountain behind it is the trail that we just hiked on.
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Next - a lesser known temple gem.

Hasedera
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Buddhist temple with lookout views of the beach, a shrine in a cave and beautiful grounds. 400 yen entry.
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Café time! Walk down a narrow alley to check out a cute cafe with a chance to glimpse a cutie kitty,

sacanosita
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Café in traditional house with a resident cat. Serving coffee, pancakes, and sandwiches. Outdoor and indoor seating.
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Walk along the water with a brief stop at the beach to check out the surfers on our way to the next lookout.

Inamuragasaki Park
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Seaside park with a view of Enoshima and Mt. Fuji. Great spot to watch the sunset.
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Dinner time! Choice of Hawaiian, steak, pizza, or low key grocery store food.

Pacific DRIVE-IN
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Hawaiian style diner with outside seats facing the ocean and Mt.Fuji.
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Onaricho Ishikawa
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Higher end shabu-shabu and sukiyaki restaurant. Ribeye steak is a good choice.
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Garden House Kamakura
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Garden restaurant serving pizza and pancakes.
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Kinokuniya
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Grocery store with premade meals for sale. Usually on sale after 5pm.
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Tokyu Store
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Supermarket for takeout dinner
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Shopping Street Day

This is a low key day while we wait to leave for the airport. We will just be doing some morning wandering along the main shopping street of Kamakura - Komachi-dori. If you are staying in the area you could do Enoshima in the afternoon. More information below.

VASARA Kimono Rental Kamakura Store
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Kimono rental from 3,600 yen to 16,390 yen depending on quality.
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Komachi-dori Street
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Popular shopping street with cute shops to check out. Many people wear kimono while walking down the street to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.
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Stop in at one of the cafes below to get your caffeine fix!

Garage Blue Bell
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Garden café serving tea and scones with resident cats.
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VERVE COFFEE ROASTERS YUKINOSHITA
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Hip spot for coffee, Serving waffles, sandwiches, and pastries.
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Tsubame Cafe
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Japanese meal set in cool vintage house. Good spot to escape the crowds.
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Wander around the iconic shrine.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
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Famous shrine featuring beautiful gates in front of forested slopes.
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Grab a quick lunch from one of these restaurants in the main Kamakura area.

Cobakaba
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Lunch café serving Japanese meal sets featuring fish and eggs,
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The3rd.Kamakura
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Western(y) - Open face sandwiches, salads, eggs benny
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Kamakura Musubi Chaya
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Popular onigiri lunch spot serving lunch sets. Seating upstairs.
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井上商店
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Udon spot for lunches.
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Enoshima Area

If you are sticking around the area, you can take the enoden train to Enoshima to do a stair day!

Note: this area is known for Kites - birds that will swoop down and steal food right out of your hands! They seemed to be along the shore lines mostly.

TOBYSAUCE
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Cuban sandwich shop. Closes at 6pm. No seating. If you take it to go, watch out for the Kite birds that will swoop down and steal your food near the beach.
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Enoshima Benzaiten Shopping Street
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Cute shopping street filled with souvenir shops leading to the entrance of Enoshima.
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torico
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Fried chicken snack shop.
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Omusubidokoro Harumi
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Onigiri snack shop just off the main street.
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Fujimi Beach
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A quiet beach off of the main shopping street with views of Mt. Fuji.
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Now we go up! There's an option to pay for the escalators that take you through a tunnel to the top of the island.

Enoshima Shrine - Hetsumiya
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A shrine on the walk up to the top of Enoshima
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You've reached the top! Wander around the gardens and check out the sights.

Enoshima Samuel Cocking Garden
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Garden at the top of Enoshima
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Enoshima Sea Candle
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Look out spot to see the coast and island from above. 500 yen entry.
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Make your way along the southwest path toward the end of the island. You will be walking by restaurants and cute shops.

Dragon Love Bell
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A cute spot just off the main path where you can ring the bell with your loved one and make a wish.
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Enoshima Iwaya Cave
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Really cool cave where they give you a candle to explore the low cave. 500 yen entry.
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Chigogafuchi Abyss
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Cool rock outcrop that you can walk on and explore the pools filed with marine life. Lots of people randomly fishing along the ends.
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Time to head back! There are two options. Ferry or walking. I personally walked it because I missed the last ferry. Walking back wasn't as bad as I made it out to be in my head. You can do it!

Bentenmaru (Ferryboat to Benten bridge)
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400 yen tiny ferry that will take you back to the mainland. Ferry schedule is decided on the day of. Service seems to end just before sunset.
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Midori Bridge
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Walk back up the stairs and then take a left turn for a short cut around the island.
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Chill out on the beach and watch as Enoshima lights up at night.

Katase Higashihama Beach
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A nice beach to end the day. Watch surfers or just relax your aching feet in the cold sand.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laura Murray
Hi, I'm an Arborist from Canada. I'm a cozy traveler who likes searching for hidden gems and cool trees. You'll find café, food, garden, and easy hike recommendations here.
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