Kamakura and Enoshima day trip from Tokyo: Great Buddha, temples, Enoden and the island

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Kamakura was Japan's capital in the 12th to 14th centuries, and today it is a seaside town of temples, shrines, hiking trails and beaches about an hour from Tokyo. Add Enoshima, a small island at the end of the Enoden line, and you have one of the best day trips from the city.

Getting there

JR Yokosuka Line runs directly from Tokyo and Shinagawa stations to Kamakura in about an hour.
JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line links Shinjuku and Shibuya with Kamakura, sometimes with a change at Ofuna or Zushi.
Odakyu Line from Shinjuku goes to Fujisawa and Katase-Enoshima. Odakyu sells a discount ticket covering the round trip from Shinjuku plus unlimited rides around Kamakura and Enoshima, including the Enoden.
An IC card such as Suica covers everything if you pay as you go.

A good loop: arrive at Kamakura on JR, see the town, take the Enoden west to Enoshima, then return to Tokyo on the Odakyu line from Katase-Enoshima.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and Komachi-dori

From the east exit of Kamakura station, Komachi-dori is a busy lane of snack shops, sweets and souvenirs. Try the local purple sweet potato soft-serve and the shirasu (whitebait) snacks. At the end stands Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura's most important shrine, founded by the Minamoto clan. The long approach, the main hall on top of a flight of steps and the ponds with lotus in summer are all worth the walk. Wakamiya-oji, the broad avenue parallel to Komachi-dori, leads from the sea straight to the shrine.

The Great Buddha (Kotoku-in)

Take the Enoden two stops to Hase. The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a bronze Amida Buddha from the 13th century, about 11 metres tall. It has sat in the open air since the hall around it was destroyed centuries ago. For a small extra fee you can step inside the statue.

Hasedera

Five minutes' walk from the Great Buddha, Hasedera is a temple on a hillside with a large wooden Kannon statue, a small cave hall, gardens and a terrace with a view over the bay. It is famous for hydrangeas in June, when there can be a timed entry system for the hydrangea path.

The Enoden

The Enoshima Electric Railway is a small, slow, four-carriage line between Kamakura and Fujisawa that runs through back gardens and along the sea. The stretch around Kamakura-Kokomae has the coast right beside the tracks. The crossing there is famous from the anime Slam Dunk and gets very crowded; be considerate of residents and do not stand in the road.

Enoshima

Get off at Enoshima station and walk across the long bridge to the island.

Enoshima Shrine has three halls spread across the island.
The Samuel Cocking Garden and the Sea Candle observation tower give views of the coast and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji.
The Iwaya Caves are on the far side, reached by steps down to the rocks.
The Escar, paid outdoor escalators, saves the first climbs if you are tired.
Eat shirasu-don, rice topped with whitebait, a local speciality.

Sunset from the west side of the island, with Fuji in silhouette in winter, is one of the best views in the area.

Beaches

Yuigahama and Zaimokuza in Kamakura and Katase beside Enoshima are popular in summer. Lifeguarded swimming beaches are generally open in July and August only. Shichirigahama is beautiful but not a swimming beach because of its currents. Off-season, the beaches are quiet places for a walk.

Avoiding the crowds

Go on a weekday, and start early. The Enoden can have queues to board at Kamakura station on weekends.
If the Enoden is packed, walk between Hase and Kamakura; it takes about 25 minutes.
Hydrangea season (June), Golden Week, and autumn leaves in late November and early December are the busiest times.
Quieter temples such as Hokokuji, with its bamboo grove, and Engakuji near Kita-Kamakura station are good escapes.

Our Hakone and Mount Fuji guides cover other trips from Tokyo. Share your favourite Kamakura temple or ask about your route in the comments.