The classic Kanagawa day trip. Start at Kita-Kamakura for Engakuji and Kenchoji temples, walk the Daibutsu hiking trail to the Great Buddha, visit Hasedera Temple, browse Komachi Street, and end at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.
The Kamakura Temple Trail day trip is one of the most rewarding excursions from Yokohama, situated just 25 minutes south by the JR Yokosuka Line to Kita-Kamakura station. Kanagawa's ancient capital from 1185 to 1333, Kamakura preserves an extraordinary concentration of Zen Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and hilltop hiking paths within a compact coastal town ringed by wooded hills.
The journey typically begins at Kita-Kamakura station, where Engakuji Temple — founded in 1282 — greets arrivals with layered moss-covered rooftops and a great bell dating to 1301. A short walk south leads to Kencho-ji, the oldest Zen training temple in Japan (1253), where meditation halls and a serene Chinese-style garden set the tone for the day. From Kencho-ji, the Daibutsu Hiking Trail winds through dense cedar and bamboo forest for roughly two kilometres, emerging at Kotoku-in and the Great Buddha of Kamakura — a 13.35-metre bronze Amida Buddha cast in 1252 that sits in the open air, its original enclosing hall long since swept away by typhoons.
From the Great Buddha, the trail continues downhill to Hasedera Temple, which houses an eleven-headed wooden Kannon image and terraced hydrangea gardens with views across Sagami Bay. The town of Hase and the main shopping street, Komachi-dori, offer abundant food options: shirasu whitebait rice bowls and matcha sweets are local specialities. The route concludes at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, the great warrior-shrine at the heart of Kamakura, before the JR Yokosuka Line returns visitors to Yokohama from Kamakura station.
Transport is straightforward: the JR Yokosuka Line from Yokohama takes approximately 25 minutes to Kita-Kamakura (480 JPY one way). The Kamakura-Enoshima Free Kippu (1,520 JPY from Yokohama) adds unlimited Enoden tram rides and is worthwhile if combining with Enoshima. Total entry costs for the main attractions run roughly 1,700 JPY, with a full day's food and transport coming in around 5,000–6,000 JPY. Weekday mornings offer the calmest experience; the town can be extremely crowded on Saturday afternoons and during autumn foliage season.
Suggested itinerary
- 09:00 — Arrive Kita-Kamakura; visit Engakuji Temple (500 JPY)
- 10:00 — Walk south to Kencho-ji Temple (500 JPY)
- 11:00 — Begin Daibutsu hiking trail through forest
- 13:00 — Arrive at Kotoku-in Great Buddha (300 JPY)
- 13:30 — Lunch at Hase area restaurant (shirasu-don 1,500 JPY)
- 14:30 — Visit Hasedera Temple (400 JPY)
- 15:30 — Komachi Street shopping and snacking
- 16:30 — Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (free)
- 17:30 — Train back to Yokohama
Location
35.3192, 139.5467 View on map
Highlights
- Walk the Daibutsu Hiking Trail through cedar forest from Kencho-ji to the 13th-century Great Buddha at Kotoku-in
- Visit Engakuji Temple, one of Japan's great Zen complexes, just steps from Kita-Kamakura station
- Explore Hasedera Temple and its terraced hydrangea garden overlooking Sagami Bay
- Browse Komachi-dori shopping street for shirasu bowls, matcha sweets, and Kamakura souvenirs
- End at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, the grand warrior-shrine at the centre of historic Kamakura
Tips for visiting
- Buy the Kamakura-Enoshima Free Kippu pass (1,520 JPY) to save on transport if combining with Enoshima.
When to visit
Late March to early April for cherry blossoms at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, and June for hydrangeas at Hasedera; arrive by 09:00 on weekdays to beat tour groups at the major temples and enjoy the forest trail in morning quiet.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Daibutsu Hiking Trail from Kencho-ji to the Great Buddha?
The main trail is approximately 2 km and takes about 60–90 minutes at a comfortable walking pace. Light hiking shoes are advisable as the path includes steep stone steps and uneven forest terrain. The trail is generally well-signposted in Japanese and English.
Is a JR Pass valid for the trip from Yokohama to Kita-Kamakura?
Yes, the JR Yokosuka Line is covered by the JR Pass. Pass holders can ride from Yokohama (or Tokyo) to Kita-Kamakura and Kamakura stations without additional payment, making this one of the easiest JR Pass day trips in Kanagawa.
Can the route be completed without doing the forest hiking trail?
Yes. Visitors who prefer a flat route can take the Enoden tram from Hase to reach the Great Buddha area without the forest hike, keeping the walk to gentle town streets throughout the day.
What is shirasu and where can visitors try it in Kamakura?
Shirasu is tiny whitebait fish harvested fresh from Sagami Bay; a shirasu-don (whitebait over rice) is Kamakura's signature dish. Numerous restaurants along Hase and Komachi-dori serve it from around 1,200–1,800 JPY, and some serve it raw (nama-shirasu) when freshly landed.
Are there luggage lockers at the stations near Kamakura?
Coin lockers are available at both Kamakura station and Kita-Kamakura station, making it practical to store bags before starting the temple trail.