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Kamakura Travel Guide
Things To See
Visit the Great Buddha statue
The Kamakura Daibutsu, or the Great Buddha of Kamakura, is an enormous Amida
Buddha statue that is made of bronze. At over 13 metres high, this statue is the second
tallest of its kind in the country (the tallest is the Buddha at Todai-ji Temple in Nara) and
watches over the Kotokuin Temple grounds.
Check out the temples
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Hasedera Temple – Known for its statue of the Jodo sect’s Goddess of Mercy,
Kannon, the Hasedera Temple sits on a hill and has ponds and a nice garden.
Hokokuji Temple – A Zen Buddhist temple of the Rinzai Sect, the Hokokuji is a
small temple with a thick bamboo forest behind its main hall.
Kenchoji Temple – The oldest and ranked number one among the five great Zen
temples of Kamakura, Kenchoji was founded in 1253. It consists of many subtemples
and temple buildings.
Engakuji Temple – Recognised as the second greatest Zen temple of Kamakura,
the Engakuji houses a wooden Shaka Buddha statue, a large bell, and a lush
garden that is a popular autumn foliage viewing spot.
Meigetsuin Temple – Founded in 1160, the Meigetsuin is a Rinzai Sect Zen
temple with a distinct circular window offering a view of the garden at the back.
Jomyoji Temple – Ranked number five among Kamakura’s five great Zen temples,
the Jomyoji used to be a vast complex with many pagodas and seven buildings.
But due to fire, it now only has the main hall, main gate, warehouse, and reception hall.
Surugaoka Hachiman Shrine
Moss Stairs
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Ankokuronji Temple – A Buddhist Nichiren sect temple, the Ankokuronji is situated in a wooded area on a hill, offering a fantastic view
of Kamakura. Be warned – it is a bit of hike to get there but the view makes it all worthwhile.
Hike
Kamakura is bordered by ocean and a hilly area cloaked with dense forest. Visitors may choose among three types of trail to hike through the
woods, depending on the time you have available and your energy levels:
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Gionyama Hiking Course – takes around 30 minutes to complete
Daibutsu Hiking Course – takes between 60 and 90 minutes to complete
Tenen Hiking Course – takes between 60 and 90 minutes to complete
Go to the beach
The beaches of Kamakura boast fine sand, so they are quite a popular one-day or weekend getaway destination for tourists looking to escape
the adjacent busy cities of Yokohama and Tokyo in the summer. Swimming, surfing, and sunbathing are popular activities.
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