- Kamakura was the first city in Japan to establish a military government, effectively shifting political power from the Imperial Court in Kyoto to the samurai class.
- The city's unique geography, characterized by mountains on three sides and the ocean on the fourth, served as a natural defensive barrier that influenced its urban layout.
- Despite being a major tourism hub, Kamakura retains a strict height restriction on new construction to preserve the skyline of its surrounding hills.
- The city is home to the 'Kamakura Five Mountains,' a ranking system of the most important Zen temples established during the Muromachi period.
About Kamakura
Kamakura is a coastal town south of Tokyo that served as the political center of Japan during the Kamakura Shogunate in the 12th century. The city is defined by its rugged topography, which protected it as a natural fortress and now surrounds numerous historic sites like the towering bronze statue at Kotoku-in. Visitors can explore the hillside paths of Houkokuji, famous for its dense bamboo grove, or the seasonal hydrangea blooms at Meigetsu-in. The city balances this medieval heritage with a relaxed seaside atmosphere, anchored by the coastal vistas of Kamakura Yuigahama Beach.
Highlights of Kamakura
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Temples
View the massive outdoor Great Buddha statue that has survived multiple tsunamis and fires since the 13th century.
Temples
Walk through the Kannon-do hall to see the eleven-headed wooden statue of Kannon, one of the tallest in Japan.
Temples
Experience the quiet atmosphere of the bamboo garden located behind the main temple structures.
Temples
Visit during the rainy season to see thousands of blue hydrangea bushes in full bloom across the temple grounds.
Temples
Explore the oldest Zen temple in the city, which features a prominent Sanmon gate and peaceful sub-temples.
Beaches and ponds
Enjoy a seaside stroll or participate in local watersports along this popular stretch of the Sagami Bay coast.
Places of interest
Walk through the sea-carved caves of Enoshima, which contain historic shrines and reach deep into the island's rock face.
Temples
Wash your money in the shrine's spring water, as local legend suggests it will multiply your wealth.
Top things to do in Kamakura
The 1,301 highest-rated places in Kamakura, ranked by travellers.
1
Temples
Kotoku-in is a Buddhist temple famous for the Great Buddha (Kamakura Daibutsu), a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Am...
2
Temples
Hase-dera is a prominent Jodo-shu Buddhist temple in Kamakura, founded in the 8th century and historically associated wi...
3
Zoos
Enoshima Aquarium is globally recognized for its extensive research and breeding program focusing on jellyfish, housed i...
4
Parks
Sankeien Garden is a 17.5-hectare traditional Japanese garden in Yokohama featuring a collection of historic buildings r...
5
Temples
Zeniarai Benten Ugafuku Shrine is unique for its sacred spring water, which visitors use to wash their currency in the b...
6
Parks
Kanagawa Prefectural Shonan Coast Park is a significant seaside recreational space located along the Kugenuma coastline....
7
Temples
Houkokuji is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kamakura famous for its dense grove of approximately 2,000 Moso bamboo stalks. Fou...
8
Temples
Kenchō-ji is the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan and serves as the head temple of the Kenchō-ji school of the Rin...
9
Temples
Meigetsu-in is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kamakura, famously known as the 'Hydrangea Temple' due to the thousands of bushe...
10
Temples
Engaku-ji is one of the Five Mountains of Kamakura and serves as the head temple of the Engaku-ji branch of the Rinzai s...
11
Parks
Negishi Forest Park occupies the site of the former Negishi Racecourse, established in 1866 as Japan's first Western-sty...
12
Parks
Tsujido Seaside Park is a sprawling coastal recreational area located along the Sagami Bay shoreline in Fujisawa. The fa...
13
Places of interest
Enoshima Iwaya Cave consists of two interconnected natural sea caverns carved by waves into the southern cliffs of Enosh...
14
Beaches and ponds
Kamakura Yuigahama Beach is a 3.2-kilometer stretch of coastline facing Sagami Bay, known for its shallow waters and dar...
15
Museums
The Hamagin Space Science Center is a five-story facility located in Yokohama, focused on astronomy and space exploratio...
16
Parks
The Hibiya Kadan Ofuna Flower Center is a botanical garden in Kamakura specializing in the study and display of diverse...
17
Parks
Kamakura Seaside Park (Inamuragasaki Park) is a coastal green space situated on a headland that separates Yuigahama Beac...
18
Parks
Hokokuji Temple is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple famous for its grove of over 2,000 Moso bamboo stalks. Founded in 1334 b...
19
Parks
Enoshima Samuel Cocking Garden is a botanical park situated atop the peak of Enoshima Island, known for its diverse year...
20
Temples
Sugimoto-dera is the oldest Buddhist temple in Kamakura, officially founded in 734 AD. It serves as the first temple of...
21
Temples
Gumyō-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Yokohama founded in 737 by the monk Gyōki. It serves as the 14th temple of the...
22
Temples
Jōchi-ji is one of the five major Zen temples of Kamakura, known as the Kamakura Gozan. It belongs to the Kenchō-ji scho...
23
Temples
Ōfuna Kannon-ji is dominated by the 'Shiro-Kannon,' a hollow, 25-meter-tall white concrete statue of the Bodhisattva Kan...
24
Parks
Honmoku Shimin Park is a large municipal green space located in the Naka Ward of Yokohama, integrated into a zone featur...
25
Temples
Tōkei-ji is a historic Rinzai Zen temple in Kamakura, historically renowned as a 'divorce temple' or sanctuary for women...
26
Museums
The Yokohama Tram Museum preserves the history of the city's municipal tramway system, which operated from 1904 until it...
27
Historical places
Cape Inamuragasaki is a prominent promontory jutting into the Sagami Bay that separates the beaches of Kamakura and Shic...
28
Temples
Yugyo-ji, formally known as Shojoko-ji, serves as the head temple of the Jishu sect of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism. The...
29
Parks
Maita Park is a longitudinal urban park in Yokohama designed around the Ooka River. The park features an extensive walkw...
30
Parks
Sakaigawa Yusuichi Park functions primarily as a flood control reservoir for the Sakai River, designed to mitigate water...
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Kamakura on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Kamakura
June for the hydrangeas or November for the autumn foliage, as the mild coastal climate remains pleasant during these transition seasons.
2 days, allowing for one full day of temple hopping in the hills and a second day to explore the coast and Enoshima.
The Enoden tram line is the iconic way to travel along the coast, while the city center is best navigated by walking or renting bicycles.
Stay near Kamakura Station for the best access to transport links and major shopping streets, or near Hase Station for closer proximity to the beaches and temples.
Mid-range; while temples often have small entry fees, transport and dining options vary from affordable local eateries to higher-end establishments.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 1,301 curated attractions in and around Kamakura, ranked by traveller ratings.
Kotoku-in is the highest-rated place to visit in Kamakura right now.
The largest category is parks, with 520 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Toshima, Osaka, Kyoto.
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