Kanagawa Prefecture · Japan
Where to stay in Kamakura
Kamakura is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, home to about 173,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- HND34 km · Tokyo Haneda International Airport
- Currency
- JPYyen
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Language
- Japanese
About
About Kamakura
Kamakura is a nice seaside town with a relaxed atmosphere. It was once the political capital of Japan during the Kamakura shogunate, from 1185 to 1333. In later centuries, particularly after the Meiji Restoration, Kamakura—like much of Japan—witnessed the effects of a nationwide anti-Buddhist movement, which led to the destruction of temples and Buddhist artifacts as the government sought to separate Shinto and Buddhism and promote Shinto as the state religion.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Kamakura
See
Kamakura's sights are scattered around the city. Most visitors make a beeline for the Great Buddha and stop off at Hase Kannon on the way; these sights can be very crowded on weekends and holidays.
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine
- Myohonji Temple
- Kōtokuin
- Hasedera
- Zeniarai Benten Shrine
- Kamakurakōkōmae Station
- Kamakura Museum of History and Culture
- Kenchōji
- Engakuji
- Tōkeiji
- Meigetsuin
- Jōmyōji
Do
- Fueda Park
- Yuigahama
- Inamuragasaki
- Shichirigahama
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Kamakura to stay in
Most visitors daytrip from Tokyo, but there is a pretty good selection of accommodation if you want to spend the night.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Kamakura
4 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Kamakura Prince Hotel | 3.2 km | |
| Kaihinsou Kamakura | 1.0 km | |
| Kamakura Park Hotel | 2.1 km | |
| WeBase Kamakura | 1.1 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Kamakura
Kamakura has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; October is the wettest, with about 232 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Kamakura: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND), about 34 km from the city centre in a straight line; Oshima Airport (OIM, 62 km) and Narita International Airport (NRT, 91 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Kamakura is a very popular day trip from Tokyo for locals and tourists alike, and there are plenty of transportation options. From Narita Airport, the fastest and most expensive way to reach Kamakura is to take the Narita Express in the direction of Yokohama or Ofuna, and then change to the JR Yokosuka line for the run to Kamakura. This takes approximately 2 hours and costs ¥4500, although foreigners can purchase a N'EX Tokyo Direct Ticket. This ticket is only sold in a round-trip version for ¥4000.
Getting around
Kamakura is just a little too big to cover on foot, but a network of buses radiates out from the train station. Kotokuin and Hasedera can also be reached by taking the Enoden line three stops out to Hase station. Another option is to rent a bicycle for your tour. Nevertheless, for the energetic ones, there is a nice hike starting from Jōchiiji temple and ending near the Kōtokuin. You will walk, with some climbing, through forest. The hike also passes through Zeniarai Benten Shrine, if you are curious about the money washing ceremony.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
HND · Tokyo Haneda International Airport
OIM · Oshima Airport
NRT · Narita International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Kamakura
Eat
There are a large number of places to eat in the vicinity of the train station. For a snack, try the local specialty, purple potato soft ice cream (murasaki-imo sofuto), which tastes much better than it sounds (or looks). It is made from the purple sweet potato found throughout Japan. In Komachi street, there is a rice cracker (senbei) shop where you can toast your own senbei. One cracker costs about ¥200.
Drink
During the summer months, many temporary bars are set up on the beach due south from the train station, some of them feature live bands and DJs and it's generally a very good atmosphere. And don't miss the last train home if you are staying in Tokyo, last minute accommodation late in the evening is simply not an option during the busy summer months.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Kamakura: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kamakura?
Kamakura has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; October is the wettest, with about 232 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Kamakura?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND), about 34 km from the city centre in a straight line; Oshima Airport (OIM, 62 km) and Narita International Airport (NRT, 91 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Kamakura?
yen (JPY).
Nearby
Destinations near Kamakura
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.