Kamakura was Japan's political capital during the Kamakura period and still has the temple density to show for it, packed into a town small enough to cover mostly on foot or by the one-carriage Enoden line. The Great Buddha at Kotoku-in and the shrine avenue at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu are the anchors, but the town is also a beach and surf town on the Shonan coast, giving the day a different rhythm from a pure temple circuit. At 75-90 minutes from Chiba City it's a full but manageable day trip rather than a half-day add-on.
| Distance | 90 km from Chiba City |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 75–90 minutes |
| Getting there | JR from Chiba to Kamakura via Tokyo (70–90 min, ¥1,500/~$10 each way; JR Pass valid) |
| Address | Kamakura Station, Kamakura City, Kanagawa 248-0012 |
How to get there
- Mode
- JR Sobu → Yokosuka Line
- Duration
- 75–90 min
- Cost
- ¥1,500 (~$10)
- Notes
- Transfer at Ofuna or Tokyo
Location
Kamakura Station, Kamakura City, Kanagawa 248-0012
35.3193, 139.5467 View on map
Highlights
- Kotoku-in — the outdoor bronze Great Buddha, roughly 11 metres tall, one of the few in Japan you can walk right up to
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — the city's central shrine, reached via a long approach avenue lined with shops
- Hase-dera — a hillside temple with a large wooden Kannon statue and a garden terrace looking out over the coast
- Komachi-dori — the pedestrian shopping street near Kamakura Station for food stalls and souvenirs
- Enoshima — the small tidal island just along the coast, reachable by the Enoden line for a seaside add-on