Kamakura packs more than 65 Buddhist temples and 19 Shinto shrines into a compact coastal valley, making it one of Japan’s richest historical destinations within day-trip range of Tokyo. The city served as Japan’s political capital from 1185 to 1333, and the samurai-era legacy is visible in every Zen garden, wooden statue, and hillside trail. Beyond the temples, Kamakura offers a popular surf beach, forested hiking paths with ocean views, and Komachi-dori, a lively shopping street filled with traditional snack stalls and modern cafes. The following attractions are organized by category, with practical details on hours, admission, and what makes each worth your time.
Things to Do in Kamakura: Temples and Shrines
Kotoku-in (Great Buddha / Daibutsu)
The bronze Great Buddha of Kamakura stands 13.35 meters tall and weighs approximately 121 tons, making it the second-largest seated Buddha in Japan after Nara’s Todaiji. Cast in 1252, the statue sits in the open air after the hall that once housed it was destroyed by a tsunami in 1498. Entry costs 200 yen for the temple grounds, plus an extra 20 yen to climb inside the hollow statue and see the internal casting marks. Hours are 8:00 to 17:30 (April to September) and 8:00 to 17:00 (October to March). It is a 10-minute walk from Hase Station on the Enoden line. For context on Kamakura’s other Zen temples, see our things to do in Kamakura.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Kamakura’s most important Shinto shrine was founded in 1063 and moved to its current location in 1180 by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun. The approach along Dankazura, a raised pedestrian walkway lined with cherry trees, leads to the main hall at the top of 61 stone steps. Entry to the grounds is free. The shrine museum (Homotsuden) charges 400 yen and displays samurai armor, swords, and scrolls from the Kamakura period. The shrine is open from 5:00 to 20:30 (varies slightly by season) and is a 10-minute walk from Kamakura Station’s east exit. During the Kamakura Festival in April, yabusame (horseback archery) demonstrations are held in the shrine grounds, covered in our events and festivals guide.
Hase-dera Temple
Perched on a hillside overlooking Sagami Bay, Hase-dera is best known for its 9.18-meter gilded Kannon statue (one of Japan’s largest wooden Buddhist sculptures), thousands of small Jizo statues placed by parents mourning lost children, and a terraced garden that explodes with hydrangeas in June. Admission is 400 yen for adults. Hours are 8:00 to 17:00 (March to September) and 8:00 to 16:30 (October to February). The temple also has a viewpoint terrace with coastal views, a small cave shrine to Benzaiten, and a rotating sutra library (rinzo). It is a 5-minute walk from Hase Station or 15 minutes from the Great Buddha. Combine with Kotoku-in for an efficient half-day itinerary through the Hase area, covered in our neighborhoods guide.
Kencho-ji Temple
Ranked first among Kamakura’s Five Great Zen Temples (Gozan), Kencho-ji was founded in 1253 and remains the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan. The sprawling complex includes a massive Sanmon (main gate), a 730-year-old juniper tree designated a natural monument, a Zen garden designed by renowned landscape architect Mirei Shigemori, and a dragon painting on the ceiling of the Hatto (Dharma Hall). Admission is 500 yen. Hours are 8:30 to 16:30. It is a 15-minute walk from Kita-Kamakura Station. Allow 60-90 minutes to explore the full grounds, including the hiking trail behind the temple that leads to a small shrine with city views. For accommodation in this area, see where to stay in Kita-Kamakura.
Engaku-ji Temple
Engaku-ji, number two of the Five Great Zen Temples, was founded in 1282 to honor soldiers who died in the Mongol invasions. The Sanmon gate dates from 1783 and houses a plaque inscribed by Emperor Fushimi. The Shariden (Relic Hall) is a designated National Treasure said to contain a tooth of the Buddha, though it is only open to the public on specific dates. The temple’s large bell (ogane) was cast in 1301 and is a National Treasure. Admission is 300 yen (500 yen during peak autumn foliage). Hours: 8:00 to 16:30 (November to February closes at 16:00). It is directly outside Kita-Kamakura Station. In autumn, the maple-lined approach to the main buildings is one of Kamakura’s best foliage displays. For seasonal timing, see best time to visit Kamakura.
Zeniarai Benten Shrine
This small but fascinating shrine is tucked into a hillside cave west of Kamakura Station. The unique ritual here involves washing your money (coins or bills) in the spring water flowing through the cave, which is said to double whatever amount you wash. It is one of Japan’s most unusual shrine experiences and draws locals preparing for major purchases. Entry is free. The shrine grounds are open during daylight hours, roughly 8:00 to 17:00. To reach it, take the Daibutsu Hiking Trail from Kita-Kamakura (about 30 minutes of gentle forest walking) or walk 20 minutes from Kamakura Station. Bring 100-yen coins, the traditional currency for washing. Combine with a visit to nearby Sasuke Inari Shrine and the Genjiyama Park area.
Hokoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)
Hokoku-ji is best known for its small but dense bamboo grove containing approximately 2,000 moso bamboo stalks. The temple was founded in 1334 and is the family temple of the Ashikaga clan. Admission is 300 yen, which includes a cup of matcha green tea served at a tea house inside the bamboo grove, a worthwhile break from temple-hopping. Hours are 9:00 to 16:00. It is a 12-minute walk from Kamakura Station or a short bus ride on the Keikyu bus toward Komyoji. The bamboo grove is much smaller and less crowded than Kyoto’s Arashiyama, making it a quieter alternative for bamboo photography. For more nature and hiking options, see our things to do in Kamakura.
Sasuke Inari Shrine
Hidden in a forested valley behind Zeniarai Benten, Sasuke Inari Shrine features a tunnel of approximately 100 red torii gates climbing a steep hillside. The shrine is dedicated to Inari, the fox deity of rice and prosperity, and the atmosphere is dense with moss-covered stone lanterns and fox statues. It sees a fraction of the visitors that Fushimi Inari in Kyoto receives. Entry is free and the grounds are always open, though the steep, unlit path means you should visit during daylight hours. To find it, take the trail from Zeniarai Benten (follow the signs for “Sasuke Inari”) or walk 25 minutes from Kamakura Station. Combine with the Daibutsu Trail for a 2-3 hour temple-and-hike loop through western Kamakura.
Things to Do in Kamakura: Outdoor Activities and Nature
Daibutsu Hiking Trail
The Daibutsu Hiking Trail is a 3-kilometer forest path connecting Kita-Kamakura to the Great Buddha in Hase. The trailhead starts behind Jochi-ji Temple and passes through Genjiyama Park, Zeniarai Benten Shrine, and Sasuke Inari Shrine before descending to Kotoku-in. The route takes about 90 minutes at a relaxed pace with stops. The trail is well-marked but has uneven stone steps and tree roots, so wear proper shoes. It is open year-round and free. Mornings are quietest, and the forest canopy provides shade in summer. For a longer hike, continue past the Great Buddha along the Gionyama Hiking Course toward Yuigahama. Pack water, as there are few vending machines on the trail. See best time to visit Kamakura for seasonal hiking conditions.
Yuigahama Beach
Yuigahama is Kamakura’s main beach, a 1.2-kilometer stretch of gray sand facing Sagami Bay with views of Mount Fuji on clear winter days. Swimming season runs July 1 to August 31, with lifeguards on duty, beach huts (umi-no-ie) renting sun loungers and selling food and drinks, and water temperatures of 25-26°C (77-79°F). The beach is free to access. Outside summer, it becomes a quiet spot for walking, surfing (wetsuit required November to May), and sunset photography. The sand can be coarse in places and there are strong currents beyond the swimming zone. Rinse-off showers cost 100 yen. It is a 15-minute walk from either Kamakura Station or Wadazuka Station on the Enoden line. For nearby accommodation, see where to stay near Yuigahama.
Genjiyama Park
Genjiyama Park sits on a forested hill above Kamakura Station and serves as the starting point for several hiking trails. The park contains a bronze statue of Minamoto no Yoritomo on horseback, cherry trees that bloom in late March, and clearings with picnic tables and partial ocean views. It is free and open 24 hours. The main entrance is a 15-minute uphill walk from Kamakura Station’s west exit. From the park, you can connect to the Daibutsu Trail or descend to Zeniarai Benten Shrine. It is a good spot to escape crowds during peak temple hours and is popular with local families on weekends. The trails linking Genjiyama to the surrounding shrines are covered in our neighborhood walking routes.
Things to Do in Kamakura: Shopping and Food
Komachi-dori Shopping Street
Komachi-dori stretches about 350 meters from the east exit of Kamakura Station toward Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. The pedestrian-only street is packed with souvenir shops selling Kamakura-bori (carved lacquerware), traditional snacks like kamakura vegetable senbei (rice crackers), matcha soft serve ice cream shops, and modern boutiques. Must-try foods include freshly grilled senbei (200-300 yen), purple sweet potato soft cream (400 yen), and shirasu-don (baby sardines over rice, 1,000-1,500 yen). Most shops open by 10:00 and close around 18:00-19:00. Weekends are shoulder-to-shoulder crowded by 11:00; visit on weekday mornings or after 16:00 for breathing room. The street connects directly to the shrine approach and is an ideal first stop after arriving at Kamakura Station.
Kamakura Local Cuisine and Specialty Foods
Shirasu (whitebait) is Kamakura’s signature ingredient, served raw (nama-shirasu) over rice bowls from April to December (raw shirasu spoils quickly, so it is only served at restaurants within a few kilometers of the fishing port). Cooked shirasu (kamaage-shirasu) is available year-round. Look for shirasu-don along the Hase and Yuigahama waterfront near the fishing cooperative. Kamakura vegetables (Kamakura yasai), grown on small local farms, appear in set meals and tempura at restaurants throughout the city. Hato Sabure, dove-shaped shortbread cookies sold at Toshimaya Honten near the station (founded 1894), are Kamakura’s most famous souvenir at 800-1,500 yen per box. Matcha everything (ice cream, lattes, cakes, and even matcha beer) is widely available thanks to Kamakura’s Zen temple heritage. For more food recommendations by area, see our neighborhoods guide. For more planning resources, see our Kamakura weather by month guide, Kamakura travel tips and FAQ, and Kamakura travel guide.
