Take a break from busy tokyo to visit serene temples and explore the scenic landscapes of kamakura and enoshima on this fullday tour. It didnt take too long to get there from my neck of the woods about 60 minutes, give or take with trains and connections. I love nothing better than buying some good bread on the way kibiya is my favourite, stopping for lunch and getting stuck into a good book while im there. It lies on sagami bay of the pacific ocean, just south of yokohama.
The city is situated at the western base of the miura peninsula, is enclosed on three sides by hills, and has fine sandy beaches to the south. After the decline of the kamakura government in the 14th century and the establishment of its successor, the muromachi government in kyoto, kamakura remained the political center of eastern japan for some time before losing its position to other cities. Thus it is a nobrainer that a day trip to kamakura from tokyo will be a satisfying one for all in the group. I hurriedly made my way there, getting a little afraid that i dont have enough time to leave hasedera before it closes. In addition, there are many stylish cafes and shops making kamakura a popular destination with all ages. Kamakura has an estimated population of 172,302 1 september 2016 and a population density of 4,358. Getting there hasedera temple is a fiveminute walk from hase station, on the enoden train line between fujisawa and kamakura. Kamakura travel guide top 20 spots, sightseeing tips. A visitor to kamakura in the th century would have been met by gangs of swordwielding samurai strutting the streets in full regalia, en route to a shinto shrine or buddhist temple.
See whats happening at yokohama stadium or yokohama cultural gymnasium. Kamakura is not just a historical city which has a lot of temples, shrines, and other historical buildings there are also some popular beaches in kamakura. I combined it with the japanese material my wife had, but i found this book more useful. Wireless internet is available in public areas for free. Please doublecheck the destination of your train before you get on. In the hills surrounding kamakura there are a number of beautiful forest trails. Kamakura is fairly walkable, though some temples require a short bus ride. The author brilliantly engages wellknown celebrities to tell their own stories of how they overcame obstacles in order to reach high levels of success. Getting to the inn is a simple process of getting a train to kamakura, then switching to a local train service not jr so your railpass wont work for the 5 minute ride to hase from there. Kamakuraenoshima day trip from tokyo erikas travelventures. Although it barely scratches the surface, here are a few of the mustsee spots in kamakura. Book the dream trip to japan with our tailormade booking service. A day trip to kamakura youll never forget spiritual travels. From jochiji temple in kita kamakura to genjiyama public park is somewhat unchallenging, and we were surprised to see a parking lot nearby and visitors who drove to this spot.
Take the jr yokosuka line bound for zushi, kurihama, or yokosuka. There is a multilingual audio guide available for a 500 yen rental fee in kamakurait is automatically activated when it nears a sightseeing location. Free wifi ac room parking free breakfast spa free cancellation. The famous ten game match between go seigen and kitani minoru in kamakura, as a result of which go seigen was clearly established as number one in the world, is thoroughly analyzed in this massive study by john fairbairn. The facilities were clean, and a we were looking for a bit of a traditional japanese experience the tatami bed room and communal rooms were the perfect antidote to a week of tiny western style hotels in tokyo. Hi, well be in japan in october and messed up our yokohama booking leaving use with a spare night netween staying in hakone and yokohama.
Japan railways jr has various options the odakyu railway also connects kamakura and tokyo, but with longer travel time. So, i first took the local train from kamakura to kitakamakura, the next station to the north. Getting around kamakura japan travel by navitime japan. The kamakura period began in approximately 1185 and ended in 33. I get off at kitakamakura, sit on a bench on the platform, and have my breakfast. Not too far from kamakura, there is an island called. It is a good value, but makes access to kamakura more timeconsuming. This chapter of the book deals with the kamakura period. It was about a 10 minute walk along narrow sidewalks to the great buddha of kamakura.
Mar 9, 2012 kamakura pictures guide, japan, main attractions with compact visitor information on what to see and getting there bugbog. Kamakuratokyo by train need to get ticket in advance. Kamakura is a coastal town in kanagawa prefecture, less than an hour south of tokyo. There are many restaurant specialized for local foods. Our cheapo transport recommendation is taking the odakyu line from shinjuku station to fujisawa station, then transfering to the odakyu enoshima line and getting off at kataseenoshima station the closest station to the main beach area 630 yen oneway. In the east and only an hour away from tokyo by train, kamakura is a historical city that was established as a shogunate in the 12th century. Thus, for example, when customers wish to book a plane ticket for japan, execution of this service requires communication of customers identity information to. The famous ten game match between go seigen and kitani minoru in kamakura, as a r. Day trip to kamakura a detailed guide to the kyoto of. See whats happening at yokohama stadium or yokohama cultural. Japanese historythe kamakura period wikibooks, open.
They can be purchased at odakyu company ticket machines in train stations, at odakyu ticket offices, or at odakyu sightseeing information centers. Admission varies according to the special exhibition on display at the time, but is usually in the. Kamakura also has a laidback, earthy vibe complete with organic restaurants, summer beach shacks and surfers which can be added to sunrise meditation and hillside hikes as reasons to visit. Even the shuttle bus that goes around the different areas is complimentary. Kamakura city had been receiving a growing number of complaints from residents about getting their clothes stained with ice cream or dumpling syrup when brushing past tourists. There are omamori good luck charms you can buy at the top shrine, omikuji fortunes you can draw, and even a small museum of shinto artifacts you can visit. Though there isnt a huge amount of information on this pass for englishspeaking tourists, it isnt too difficult to find if you visit the kamakura city website, or visit the ticket office at the jr kitakamakura and kamakura and enoden stations. Hakone kamakura pass 7000 yen the hakone kamakura pass provides not only access to kamakura by odakyu and enoden, but also access to and transportation around hakone on three consecutive calendar days. You can take the jr yokosuka line from major stations such as tokyo or shinagawa travel time is a. Getting around on a kamakura and enoshima daytrip from tokyo. And i am very sure this is from like less than 10 people who complained about this. A wonderful place to visit, kamakura is located in the shonan area, about an hour away from tokyo. Kamakura featuring mountain views, kamakura apartment offers a central accommodation with a free private parking lot, a safe deposit box and a baggage room.
A guide to the best way to get from tokyo to kamakura on a day trip. I spent the day getting there, leaving the train at kitakamakura and making my way, down the valley on foot, visiting. The citys seafood dishes, popular among gourmets, use fresh young sardines from the nearby ocean. Kamakura guest house had a lovely friendly atmosphere and the family who run the hostel were most welcoming at all times. In kamakura, this usually meant walking to the local train station first thing in the morning, buying my breakfast at one of the shops there, then riding to kitakamakura, the next station back in the direction of tokyo. Hasedera temple in kamakura kamakura, kanagawa japan. There are all sorts of secondhand books available for sale, and its fun to peer into peoples collections and see what kind of books they like. The period is particularly significant in japanese history since it marked the beginning of 600 years of organized feudalism. Not only are there generations of history and culture to explore, but there s also a beautiful natural landscape. The kamakura bungakukan is a 7 minute walk from the enodens yuigahama station, or a 3 minute walk from the kaigan dori bus stop. Day trip to kamakura from tokyo in autumn the petite wanderess.
How to get from tokyo to kamakura with jr pass or without. Kamakura passes ordinance against eating on the go japan. Its a popular commuter town for people who like the laidback beach lifestyle, and it draws lots of daytrip tourists who want to visit those beaches and the areas exceptional collection of shrines and temples, one of which houses a massive bronze great buddha kamakura daibutsu. Aug 01, 2008 a visitor to kamakura in the th century would have been met by gangs of swordwielding samurai strutting the streets in full regalia, en route to a shinto shrine or buddhist temple. Mar 26, 2019 kamakura city had been receiving a growing number of complaints from residents about getting their clothes stained with ice cream or dumpling syrup when brushing past tourists.
Sign up for klook with my referral link to get 350jpy off any of the klook activities. Yokosuka to kamakura 3 ways to travel via train, taxi, and car. You can catch jr shonan shinjuku line trains on platform 2 in ikebukuro. Kamakura is a popular day trip from tokyo and we can see why. A guide for the curious traveler michael cooper on. You can take the jr yokosuka line from major stations such as tokyo or shinagawa travel time is a bit under an hour. Take the japan railways jr yokosuka line from the marunouchi side of tokyo station. Kamakura bungakukan kamakura, kanagawa japan travel. However, i wanted to go there via the walking path.
Get up to 38% off the regular ticket price with this special deal. Oct 08, 2014 located in kanagawa prefecture southwest of tokyo, kamakura is a popular destination for tourists, both japanese and those from overseas, and deservedly so. There is a also aquarium nearby enoshima, its a good chance to see marin life. Nov 27, 2017 thanks to its close proximity to tokyo, getting to kamakura is easy and affordable. I spent the day getting there, leaving the train at kitakamakura and making my way, down the valley on foot, visiting the zen temples that line this route. You can book a shuttle, once your reservation is complete.
Getting there, by gillian zoe segal, is a fantastic book that everyone should read. I plan to do a day trip from tokyo to kamakura, leaving from tokyo in the morning and returning in the late afternoon, but i cant tell if i should or can book tickets. The cheapest way to get from yokohama to kamakura costs only. In the west of japan, there are historical cities like kyoto and nara. Located in kamakura, kamakura guesthouse is in the historical district and near a train station. This period marks the transition of japan to its medieval era. Nov 06, 2019 the best way to get around during a kamakura and enoshima daytrip from tokyo is to purchase odakyu railways kamakuraenoshima free pass. Kamakura the official tokyo travel guide, go tokyo. Anpanman museum and kamakura museum of literature are cultural highlights, and some of the areas activities can be experienced at kamakura seaside park and tsujido seaside park. Jun 19, 2019 kamakura is a coastal town located on sagami bay on honshu island, japan, which was the capital of the kamakura shogunate from 1192 to 33 ce. Thanks to a linking bridge, enoshima island can easily be accessed by train. There s a detour to zeniarai benten that you should take. Yokohama to kamakura 4 ways to travel via train, taxi, and car.
The street was lined with restaurants and some souvenir stores. The kamakura government continued to rule japan for over a century, first under the minamoto shogun and then under the hojo regents. Guesthouse irodori kamakura located within 15 minutes walk of hasedera temple, guest house irodori kamakura apartment features a sun terrace and a baggage storage. The town became the political center of japan, when minamoto yoritomo chose it as the seat for his new military government in the late 12th century. The cheapest way to get from yokosuka to kamakura costs only. When you enter a kamakura, you are also expected to make a small donation as an offering to the local water deity. Firstly if youre travelling from tokyo station, you can catch the jr yokosuka line, which connects directly with kamakura station, the oneway trip takes just under an hour and costs 920 yen.
Mar 10, 2016 kamakura is small, and the station is well equipped for tourists, so getting around is a breeze. The main attraction of the event is the one box secondhand book fair, where regular people bring in their treasured old books and become booksellers. Getting to kamakura from tokyo is very easy by train. Getting there kamakura is just an hour from tokyo by train. Also there is a tower called sea candle which has a good observation point, so the place shows us several scenery for through a year. Besides its dozens of buddhist temples and shinto shrines, youll find beachthemed gifts, surf shops, gelato shops and galleries lining the narrow streets in hase en route to the great buddha, kamakuras most famous sight, and hasedera, another important temple nearby.
There s a walking path consisting of many steps which you can climb up, for an elevation point where you can see this coastal town that kamakura is. The daibutsu nature path from kitakamakura to kuzuharaoka shrine. Japanese historythe kamakura period wikibooks, open books. I want to go to kamakura and stay one night there but am not sure of the best way of getting between. Kamakura planning a trip in kamakura getting there. Kamakura, kamakurashi is a city in kanagawa prefecture, japan. Society, too, changed radically, and a new feudal system emerged. There are several hiking routes to choose from, the most well trodden being the tenen, which goes through the northern hills, mostly along their ridges. Kamakura passes ordinance against eating on the go japan today. If youre keen, you can rent one from the tourism information center at jr kamakura station, east exit. Kamakura hiking trails 2020 all you need to know before you. Even though its winter, and its not very picturesque, we decided to go to kamakura on one of my weekend days to wander around and see the multitude of shrines and temples there. Close to tokyo in japans kanagawa prefecture, kamakuras hasedera temple is known for its summer hydrangeas, and is also home to one of the largest wooden scultures in japan, a gilded ninemeter statue of a buddhist deity. The surf culture is rocking kamakuras shores travel.
Kamakura is one of the great spiritual centers of japan. Dec 20, 2019 once you arrive in kamakura, you can purchase the jr kamakuraenoshima pass 700 jpy, 6. Kamakura is very crowded on the weekends and in high seasons, public transportation is a convenient way to get around kamakura. Today, kamakura is a small city and a very popular tourist destination. Located in kamakura, villa kamakura is on the waterfront. Kamakura is a city by the sea southwest of tokyo in kanagawa prefecture, about an hour by train. Kamakura is small, and the station is well equipped for tourists, so getting around is a breeze. Enoshima kamakura free pass 1520 yen the enoshima kamakura free pass by odakyu provides a round trip from shinjuku to enoshima by odakyu railway in combination with free use of the enoden line. There is in fact so much to do in kamakura that visitors could spend many days here without ever getting bored.
But i took too long doing so and by the time i reached kamakura itself the daibutsu was closed. The official walking map can be found on hasedera temples home page. Kamakura is a coastal town located on sagami bay on honshu island, japan, which was the capital of the kamakura shogunate from 1192 to 33 ce. The daibutsu and the kotokuin temple are a short walk to the west of central kamakura. The kamakura period in japan lasted from 1192 to 33, bringing with it the emergence of shogun rule. Enodens streetcar train can be used to get around kamakura itself.
Aug 10, 2011 getting around tokyo pocket atlas and transportation guide. Kamakura hiking trails 2020 all you need to know before. Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as. The trip takes almost 1 hour from tokyo station and costs. My favorite activity in kamakura is walking along the beach to visit the shrines and temples my favourite being egara tenjin shrine. This was my third trip to kamakura and this book led me. Once a year, the book carnival is held in kamakura. Provided with excellent natural defensive features, it was fortified and made the base of the minamoto clan and then the hojo shoguns. It was a bit cooler than tokyo since there was a slight ocean breeze but still hot and humid. The trails can be divided into 3 trails, or areas, around kamakura.
Japanese warlords, known as shoguns, claimed power from the hereditary monarchy and their scholarcourtiers, giving the samurai warriors and their lords ultimate control of the early japanese empire. Kamakura travel guide top 20 spots, sightseeing tips, and. Below are some passes that can be useful on a visit to kamakura. Kamakura pictures guide, japan, attractions, what to see. These trails make for a great escape from the city, and provide a good way to walk between some of the areas major attractions and temples while enjoying the view. Hasedera temple in kamakura kamakura, kanagawa japan travel. This period marks the transition of japan to its medieval era, which will last, for nearly 700 years until the meiji restoration. Airport transfer, laundry and grocery shopping service are available here. Highlights include seeing hasedera temple and the great buddha at kotokuin temple.
The kamakura period in japanese history was marked by the kamakura shogunate, which received its appellation from the capital, kamakura. Guests can also take advantage of 24hour front desk and laundry. Most people will arrive in kamakura by train and ill have some more information later on the best tickets to use to get to kamakura from tokyo or yokohama. However, if you prefer to go slow, and enjoy the picturesque views of enoshima island and shonan coast, there is a longer 90minute route. Oct 31, 2019 there s a walking path consisting of many steps which you can climb up, for an elevation point where you can see this coastal town that kamakura is. The great buddha, the beach, and hasedera are all within walking distance from the museum as well. It is possible to book a oneday guided barrierfree tour of kamakura and enoshima. Only an hour from tokyo, it tends to get packed on weekends and holidays, so plan accordingly. Getting around tokyo pocket atlas and transportation guide. Modern kamakura is a relaxed beach town with a laidback vibe. Kamakura, city, southern kanagawa ken prefecture, eastcentral honshu, japan. Feb 12, 2015 6 best temples and shrines in kamakura. Getting to the inn is a simple process of getting a train to kamakura, then switching to a local train service not jr so your railpass wont work for the 5 minute ride to hase from there less than 5 minutes to the inn.
Several important buddhist temples were built at the site such as the kenchoji, and there still remains today. You can feel the atmosphere of the shonan coast in the bright sunshine and have a good time there, especially in summer. List of books and articles about japan, kamakura period. Hakkeijima sea paradise and yokohama cosmo world are local attractions and those in the mood for shopping can visit red brick warehouse and komachidori shopping street. Book a kamakuraenoshima daytrip tour from tokyo here.