Visitors to Japan tend to head to Kansai for the culture and Kanto for the modern urban experience. But the small city of Kamakura—an hour south of Tokyo and smack dab in the middle of Kanto—ticks all the cultural boxes. Kamakura was the capital of Japan between the 12th and 14th centuries, so is home to a wealth of traditional temples, shrines, gardens, and one mighty large Buddha, the Daibutsu. It’s a popular day-trip destination from Tokyo but there are so many things to do in Kamakura that it’s worth hanging around a while.
Like most of Japan, spring (March–May) and fall (September—November) are the most popular times to visit Kamakura. The weather is generally dry and mild, and beautiful flowers and foliage bloom in the parks and grounds of the temples and shrines. It’s also really busy then. Although summer can be uncomfortable, Kamakura’s sandy beaches, ocean, and sea breezes provide respite from the heat and humidity.
Kamakura isn’t very big so it’s easy to explore on foot or by rental bicycle, and there are also local buses. To reach the beaches, the Enoden (Enoshima Electric Railway) is a handy option as it connects Kamakura Station with Enoshima and Fujisawa. The Enoshima Kamakura Free Pass includes unlimited use of the Enoden trains and connects Kamakura/Enoshima with Shinjuku in Tokyo. It’s the cheapest way of reaching Kamakura from Tokyo, but these trains take longer than the JR trains.
Although it’s common to visit Kamakura on a day trip from Tokyo, a couple of days is preferable if you want to see the cultural sites and Enoshima, an island with pretty sandy beaches. Avoid the weekends if you’d rather not be packed tight into the Enoden electric train on the way out there, but it’s easy to get to the island.
