Easy to Visit from Tokyo! Take a Sightseeing and Gourmet Trip to Kamakura Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Jun 08 2020

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Kamakura

Easy to Visit from Tokyo! Take a Sightseeing and Gourmet Trip to Kamakura

Kamakura is a popular traveling spot conveniently located from Tokyo. There are lots of natural scenic attractions as well as sacred shrines and temples to find, along with delicious restaurants and cafes. Check out this itinerary that explores Kamakura's classic sights and flavors.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Kamakura.

1. Breakfast at bills Shichirigahama (Cafe)

Start off with a morning meal to settle your hungry stomach. A recommended place is "bills Shichirigahama," located 2 minutes on foot from Shichirigahama Station on the Enoden Line (Enoshima Electric Railway). The restaurant is a branch of Sydney's famous "bills," known for its scrambled eggs and ricotta pancakes that are considered as "the world's best egg dishes." Enjoy the ocean view from any seat, and on days with great weather, terrace seats are also available. Kick off your wonderful day by savoring their gorgeously plated dishes and desserts in an open space.

bills Shichirigahama

Open: [Monday] 7:00 am - 5:00 pm (Food L.O. 4:00 pm, Drink L.O. 4:30 pm)
[Tuesday - Sunday] 7:00 am - 9:00 pm (Food L.O. 8:00 am, Drink L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,300 JPY
Address: 2F, WEEKEND HOUSE ALLEY, 1-1-1, Shichirigahama, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa Map
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2. Take the Enoden Line to Kamakura Station

After a satisfying morning meal, take the Enoden and get off at Kamakura Station. Make sure to check out the tourist information office within the station premises. The staff can communicate in various languages, such as English, Chinese, and Korean, and they can provide information regarding the local area. Multilingual brochures are also available.

Travel Kanagawa Now Official Website

Address: 1-1-1, Ko-machi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa (Map)
Source: Travel Kanagawa Now Official Website

3. Komachi Street

Komachi Street (Komachi-dori) is a commercial area about 360m in length that runs from the East Exit of JR Kamakura Station to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. With about 250 stores selling foods, sundries, fashion goods, and other items, the place is brimming with a lively atmosphere. Items that are unique to Kamakura, such as Kamakura-bori (a form of carved lacquerware) accessories, are sold here and make perfect souvenirs. There are also shops renting kimono that you can wear while walking around the former capital of Kamakura.

Komachi Street

Address: Ko-machi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa (Map)
Source: Komachi Street Official Website (Japanese only)

4. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

Kamakura houses many shrines and temples. Among them, the most well-known is the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. This ancient shrine was built in 1063 and moved to its present location in 1180. It carries a history of enshrining the guardian god of the samurai, who is believed to give blessings in victory and fortune. Within the premises are several buildings, such as the red lacquered Lower Worship Hall, and many attractions. The four seasons beautifully color the precinct with cherry blossoms from February to early April, hydrangeas from mid-June to mid-July, and autumn leaves from the end of November to early December. Make sure to drop by the Homotsukan Museum (Adults: 200 JPY, Children: 100 JPY) to see the exhibited weapons and crafts.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

Address: 2-1-31, Yukinoshita, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa (Map)
Source: Official Website

5. Eat Lunch at Hanon (Udon, Soba)

A great lunch spot is Hanon, located about 4 minutes on foot from Kamakura Station. With an interior that features a fusion of old and modern Japanese design, the restaurant lets you enjoy traditional Japanese noodle and udon dishes. What makes the noodles unique is that they are prepared with whole wheat flour, which is healthy and rich in fiber. The especially thin noodles, which are easy to eat, and the flavor of its dipping soup are a perfect match. Their [Tempura Seiro Udon], which consists of udon paired with tempura, is a favorite of many. They offer regular udon noodles and green udon noodles, which are made from a mixture of flour and bamboo grass.

Hanon

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Address: 1-14-22, Ko-machi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa

6. Use the Enoden Line to Head to Hase Station

After filling your stomach, go to Hase Station via the Enoden Line. Walk northwards for 8 minutes to reach the next destination, Kotoku Temple (Kotoku-in).

7. Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Kamakura)

The Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Kamakura), considered to be the symbol of the city, is the principal object of worship at this temple. This impressive statue of Buddha, said to have been created in 1252, stands 11.3m tall and weighs about 121 tons. It represents the style of statues back in its time and is an important Buddhist artwork that the government designated the great budda of Kamakura as a national treasure. It is a great spot for taking memorabilia photos, so make sure to have your camera ready. Not only do you get to view the statue, but you can also go inside the structure and experience its serene and mystical atmosphere.

Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Kamakura)

Open: Operating Hours *Last entry 15 minutes before closing time
[April - September] 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
[October - March] 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Average price: Temple Visiting Fee: (General, Middle School Students, High School Students) 200 JPY, (Elementary School Students) 150 JPY
Entrance to the Interior of the Great Buddha Statue: 20 JPY
Address: 4-2-28, Hase, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa (Map)
Source: Kamakura Daibutsu and Kotoku-in Official Website

8. Hase Temple

Hase Temple (Hase-dera) was established in 736. It is home to many attractions, including the enshrined 9.8m tall “Eleven-headed Kannon,” which is the largest wooden Buddhist sculpture in the country. The observatory is popular and commended for offering the best views of Kamakura. From there, you can see the surrounding cityscape and the sea. Its temple grounds are painted with so many varieties of flowers, and it is also called the "Flower Temple" (Hana no Tera). From late May to mid-July, the scenery is filled with 2,500 hydrangea bulbs of 40 varieties. It's also worth viewing the cherry blossoms from late March until early April, and the autumn leaves from late November to early December.

Hase Temple

Open: Operating Hours
[Summer: March - September] 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (5:30 pm at the end of the climbing season)
[Winter: October - February] 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (5:00 pm at the end of the climbing season)
Average price: Fees for Temple Visit: (Adults) 300 JPY, (Elementary School Students) 100 JPY
Address: 3-11-2, Hase, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa (Map)
Source: Official Website

9. Yuigahama Beach

Yuigahama is a sandy beach facing Sagami Bay. Its scenic ocean views have been gaining popularity, and during the summer, it is flocked by a number of bathers. The surrounding area was once developed as a holiday area and is dotted with luxurious Western-style establishments as well as traditional Japanese houses. There are also chic cafes and grocery stores so that you can have fun even just meandering around the area.

Yuigahama Beach

Address: Yuigahama Beach, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa (Map)

10. Go Back to Kamakura Station with the Enoden Line

To end the trip, go back to Kamakura Station on the Enoden Line and have dinner. This article offers two choices of restaurants: one that mainly serves fish or another that mainly serves meat.

11. Have Dinner at Ohama (Japanese Cuisine)

Ohama is a popular izakaya (Japanese pub) that you can reach by walking 5 minutes from Kamakura Station. Delight in its diversity of dishes that pair well with any of the 20 kinds of sake selected by the restaurant owner. Ohama abundantly uses locally produced ingredients. Their sashimi, in particular, is prepared with fresh seafood caught in fishing ports around the area that day. It's a perfect dish to go with sake. Also, its cozy interior, made with old materials, makes it especially easy for a sole diner to feel welcomed. Taste the local flavors on your tongue while drinking from their adorable ochoko (sake cups).

Ohama

Open: [Weekday] Normal hours 17:30-22:00 (Last order 21:30)
[Saturday, Sunday, Holiday] Normal hours 15:00-22:00 (Last order 21:30)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: Five minutes walk (339m) from Kamakura Station.
Address: 101, Miyuki Bldg., 4-15 Onari cho, Kamakura, Kanagawa (Map)
More Details Reservation

12. Eat Dinner at Kamakura Miyokawa (Japanese Cuisine)

This place may seem like a Japanese inn, but Kamakura Miyokawa is a long-established restaurant that is well-known for serving high-class Japanese meals. The chefs carefully select the ingredients, which are procured from different parts of the country, and take their time to prepare the dishes meticulously. The dishes presented on your dining table will not only enchant your palate but your eyes as well. Have their shabu-shabu (sliced meat parboiled with vegetables) to get a luxurious taste of domestic Kuroge Wagyu (a type of high-quality beef). It is served with a sesame sauce, which has smoked cashew nuts added in. It goes together beautifully with the high-quality beef. Their [Olive Beef] - a sirloin steak, made with cows fed and grown with pressed olives - is also popular.

Kamakura Miyokawa

Open: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 10 minutes walk from the east exit of JR Kamakura Station. Go towards the ocean along Wakamiya-oji Street away from Tsuruogaka Hachimangu Shrine. Near from Ichino-Torii Gate of the shrine
Address: 2-22-5, Yuigahama, Kamakura city, Kanagawa (Map)
More Details Reservation

There are surely more sightseeing spots and dining spots in Kamakura other than those featured above. But hopefully, this article will serve as a helpful guide for when you're planning your trip to the city!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.