Day trip to Kamakura and Enoshima: the Great Buddha, Hase-dera, the tram and the caves

The classic order, an hour from Tokyo: the bronze Buddha in the open air, a temple with a candle cave and a sea view, shirasu on rice, the green tram along the coast, the island with the lighthouse and the sea caves, and a finish in the lit-up square of Tokyo Station.

The classic order for Kamakura and Enoshima, all along the Enoden line, the green tram. You start at the Great Buddha while it is still quiet, continue on foot to Hase-dera, and eat lunch near Hase Station. In the afternoon the tram comes out onto the coast, you get off by the Slam Dunk railway crossing, and continue to the island of Enoshima: a shrine, a garden, a lighthouse, caves and a meal facing the sunset. About 5 km on foot, plus the island's steps, and in the evening you return to the square at Tokyo Station. You ride the Enoden three times, ¥620 in single tickets. The 'Noriorikun' day pass costs ¥800, and pays off only if you return in the evening on the Enoden to Fujisawa, another ¥220. It also gives ¥50 off at the lighthouse and ¥50 at the caves. If you return on the Odakyu from Katase-Enoshima, buy single tickets.

Verified online, September 20268 stops · 08:30 to 21:00¥9,000 · ≈ $57 per personWalking between stops: 72 min · Transport: ¥1,830Day trip from TokyoGood with kidsShabbat-friendly (partly)Shabbat-friendly

The day on a map

7 stops, in order

Stops: 7
Walking minutes: 28

Stop number on the timelineWalkingTrain, metro or busBase map: © OpenStreetMap

Open this day in Google Maps

The same stops with the same numbers, and the way from stop to stop. On a phone it opens in the app, and that is what you navigate with in Japan. Pin names on the map are in Hebrew.

On Shabbat: If you sleep in Kamakura: Hachimangu, Komachi street, Yuigahama beach, and the gate of Kotoku-in from outside, all on foot and free. Hase-dera, the tram and Enoshima are left for another day.

Getting there: JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station to Kamakura, 57 minutes with no change, ¥1,040. If you are staying near Shinagawa, board the same train there: 48 minutes, ¥810. At Kamakura Station you switch to the Enoden. The way back, from Enoshima to Tokyo Station, is at the end of the day.

08:3009:30
TrainMust
Kamakura Station: the Yokosuka line to Kamakura
You start on the train. On weekends all of Tokyo rides to Kamakura, so you leave at 08:30 and not 10:00. The Enoden leaves from the west side of the station, and if you are returning on the Enoden in the evening, buy the day pass there, at the Enoden machine.
¥1,040 · ≈ $7Open in Maps
Ride to the Great Buddha
- Enoden line · 13 min · ¥200From the Enoden platform on the west side of the station, Enoden toward Fujisawa to Hase, 3 stations, 4 minutes. From the station it is a 7-minute walk up the main street to the Buddha's gate.
09:4510:45
Stop 1AttractionMust
Kotoku-in: the Great Buddha in the open air since 1498
13 meters of bronze sitting outdoors since a tsunami swept away the hall, in 1498. Entry is ¥300, and for ¥50 you go inside the statue. At this hour it is still quiet.
¥350 · ≈ $2Open in Maps
Down to Hase-dera
- Walk · 8 minFrom the Buddha's gate, walk south along the main street, and at the big junction before Hase Station turn right, onto the short street that climbs to the temple gate.
11:0012:30
Stop 2TempleMust
Hase-dera: a gilded Kannon, a candle cave and a view over the bay
A 9-meter gilded wooden Kannon, a dark cave with statues carved in the rock, a thousand small Jizo statues, and a terrace overlooking Sagami Bay. Entry is ¥400, and the Kannon museum is another ¥300. In June the hydrangeas cover the hill, and numbered tickets are handed out for the line.
¥400 · ≈ $3Open in Maps
Down to lunch near the station
- Walk · 10 minWalk down from the temple to the main street. The restaurants below are 5 to 10 minutes away, on both sides of Hase Station.
12:4513:45
Stop 3LunchRecommended
Lunch break in Hase
The local dish: raw shirasu (in season, not January to March) or cooked, on hot rice, ¥1,500 to ¥2,000, at restaurants near Hase Station or on Yuigahama beach, 5 minutes away. Children who do not want tiny fish find crepes on Komachi Street. Three options near the station:
- Jikon
  A wooden house on a side street off the Buddha's street: cooked shirasu over rice, and a sweet curry of Kamakura vegetables, as set meals. Lunch 11:00 to 15:00, closed on Tuesdays. With the Enoden day pass, ¥100 off.
- Oui OuiVegan options, not kosher
  A bistro of local fish and vegetables, no meat, on the second floor, a minute from Hase Station. At lunch a set meal with a fish main course, and also a vegan bowl. 11:00 to 15:00, last order at 14:00, closed on Wednesdays. Card or digital payment only.
- CotonohaVegan, not kosher
  A vegan cafe in an old house, 4 minutes from Hase Station, with seating on tatami. At lunch a Buddha bowl or a curry plate. Meals 11:00 to 15:00, then a cafe until 17:00. Closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Kosher or vegan? Every kosher and vegan place in this city
¥1,800 · ≈ $11Open in Maps
Board the tram to the coast
- Enoden line · 15 min · ¥220From Hase Station, Enoden toward Fujisawa to Kamakurakokomae, 4 stations, 15 minutes.
14:0014:45
Stop 4Scenic trainRecommended
Kamakurakokomae Station: the Enoden along the coast and the Slam Dunk railway crossing
The tram from 1902 runs between the yards of houses, and then along the sea, with Fuji behind. Get off at Kamakurakokomae, next to the famous railway crossing from the Slam Dunk opening. Cross only when it is allowed, the police are there. Continue on the Enoden to Enoshima.
FreeOpen in Maps
On to the island
- Enoden line · 20 min · ¥200Enoden two stations, 5 minutes, to Enoshima Station. From there about a quarter of an hour on foot, about 1.2 km, over the bridge to the island's gate.
15:0017:30
Stop 5IslandMust
Enoshima: the stairs, the Cocking garden, the lighthouse and the Iwaya caves
An island connected to the mainland by a bridge. Climb the steps through Enoshima Shrine, or the paid escalators, to the Samuel Cocking Garden and the Sea Candle lighthouse, with a view of Fuji at sunset, and ¥50 off with the Enoden day pass. On the other side, go down to the Iwaya Caves, with candles (¥500). The caves close at 17:00, so go down to them first, and come back up to the lighthouse for sunset. When the waves are high they are closed.
¥1,200 · ≈ $8Open in Maps
Up to dinner
- Walk · 10 minFrom the caves, climb back up the steps to the restaurants on the cliff. If you are eating on the shrine street or near Katase-Enoshima Station, continue about 15 to 25 more minutes, to the island entrance and over the bridge.
17:4018:45
Stop 6DinnerRecommended
Dinner on Enoshima
On the island's shrine street they sell grilled sea snails (sazae), shirasu and tako-senbei, a giant thin octopus cracker (¥500). The restaurants on the cliff have the sunset over Fuji, about ¥3,000 with a beer. Then you walk down the steps to the station. Pick one:
- Enoshimatei, on the cliff
  A seafood restaurant with a view of Fuji and the Shonan coast, and shirasu dishes. On weekdays 10:30 to 18:00, last order at 17:30, so at this hour only on weekends and holidays: until 19:00, last order at 18:30. No reservations, take a number from the machine.
- Tobiccho, the main branch¥1,320
  At the entrance to the island, on the way to the station: a bowl of cooked shirasu with miso soup, ¥1,320. Open daily 11:00 to 21:00, last order at 20:00 on weekdays.
- iL CHIANTI BEACHE
  Italian on the beach, a minute from Katase-Enoshima Station, with shirasu dishes on the menu. Until 22:30, last order at 21:30.
- Kosher or vegan? Every kosher and vegan place in this city
¥3,000 · ≈ $19Open in Maps
Back to Tokyo Station
- Train · 80 min · ¥1,210Walk about 12 minutes, over the bridge, to Katase-Enoshima Station. Odakyu Enoshima Line to Fujisawa, 3 stations, 6 minutes (¥170), and from there the JR Tokaido Line to Tokyo, 7 stations, 48 minutes (¥1,040).
- or: Train · 90 min · ¥1,260If you bought the day pass, walk about a quarter of an hour to the Enoden's Enoshima Station, and ride the Enoden to Fujisawa, 10 minutes (¥220, included in the pass), and from there the same JR train to Tokyo (¥1,040).
- or: Train · 105 min · ¥910The cheapest: Odakyu from Katase-Enoshima to Shinjuku, about 70 minutes with a change at Fujisawa (¥650), and from there the JR Chuo Line to Tokyo, 14 minutes (¥260).
20:1521:00
Stop 7NightIf there is time
Tokyo Station: Marunouchi square lit up
You finish in front of the brick building of Tokyo Station from 1914, lit up at night and reflected in the towers. Free. From here you head back to the hotel, on one of the trains from Tokyo Station.
¥1,210 · ≈ $8Open in Maps

Day trip to Kamakura and Enoshima: the Great Buddha, Hase-dera, the tram and the caves

7 stops, in order

Kamakura Station: the Yokosuka line to Kamakura

Kotoku-in: the Great Buddha in the open air since 1498

Hase-dera: a gilded Kannon, a candle cave and a view over the bay

Lunch break in Hase

Kamakurakokomae Station: the Enoden along the coast and the Slam Dunk railway crossing

Enoshima: the stairs, the Cocking garden, the lighthouse and the Iwaya caves

Dinner on Enoshima

Tokyo Station: Marunouchi square lit up

Kamakura and Enoshima: the Great Buddha, the hydrangea temple and the coastal train

Nikko: the gilded Toshogu Shrine, Shinkyo Bridge and Kegon Falls

Day trip to Nikko: Toshogu, Shinkyo bridge, the imperial villa and Kegon Falls