Day trips2 min read
Kamakura in a day from Tokyo: Great Buddha, and what else is worth your time
An hour by train, a giant bronze Buddha you can step inside, and a short list of what to skip.
By the Troose team ·
Go for the Great Buddha, add one temple and one shopping street, and leave the rest for another trip. Kamakura is about an hour from central Tokyo by train, so a relaxed day still has room for lunch and a look at the sea.
Is Kamakura worth it?
Yes, if you go for the right reasons. Kamakura was the seat of Japan's first samurai government, from the late 1100s until 1333. Today it is a small seaside town with temples on the hills, and one very large Buddha sitting in the open air. It is the easiest day out from Tokyo, and the slowest-paced one.
Getting there
Direct trains run from Tokyo Station and from Shinjuku to Kamakura Station in about an hour. From Kamakura, the small Enoden line runs three stops to Hase, about five minutes. The Great Buddha is a short walk from Hase Station.
A day that works
09:00
Train from Tokyo
Leave after the worst of the rush hour. You arrive around 10:00.
10:15
The Great Buddha at Kotoku-in
About 11 m of bronze, cast in the 13th century. For a small extra fee you can walk inside the hollow statue and see how it was made. Allow 45 minutes.
11:15
Hase-dera
A temple five minutes away, with gardens, small caves and a view over the sea. In June it is famous for hydrangeas, and busy.
12:30
Lunch
Kamakura has more vegetarian-friendly cafes than most towns its size. Still ask about fish stock: see our vegetarian guide.
14:00
Komachi-dori and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
Back at Kamakura Station, the shopping street leads up to the town's great shrine. Snacks on the way, steps at the end.
16:00
Back to Tokyo
Home before the evening rush, with energy left for dinner.
What to skip
Kamakura has more good temples than one day can hold. The common mistake is trying to add them all:
- Enoshima island: lovely, but it is another half-day on its own
- The Kita-Kamakura temples: a separate walk at the other end of town
- The bamboo grove temple: beautiful, and in the opposite direction from the Buddha
Quick questions
How far is Kamakura from Tokyo?
About an hour by direct train from Tokyo Station or Shinjuku.
Can you go inside the Kamakura Great Buddha?
Yes. The statue is hollow, and for a small extra fee you can walk inside it. It occasionally closes for maintenance.
Is one day enough for Kamakura?
Yes, for the Great Buddha, Hase-dera, Komachi-dori and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Enoshima and the northern temples need another day.
Day 2 of The Tokyo Waddle
A very big Buddha by the sea
An easy hour south of Tokyo to the seaside town of Kamakura, home of the Great Buddha. He has sat in the open air at Kōtoku-in since the 15th century, calm and unbothered.
- Out of Tokyo by private car, coach or train, whichever suits your group
- The Great Buddha of Kōtoku-in, 11 metres of bronze, sitting calmly since the 1200s
- Step inside the hollow statue and see how it was built (yes, really)
From ₹1,95,000 per person
