Location: Kamakura
Top Things to do in Kamakura
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10 Things to do Good for Couples in Kamakura That You Shouldn't Miss
A village dating back to Yoritomo's shogunate government in 1192, Kamakura lies amid wooded hills filled with Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Local university students offer free guided tours leaving from Kamakura station. Visit the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto god of war, patron deity of the shogun's family, and walk inside the Great Buddha.
Restaurants in Kamakura
1. Ebisuya Kamakura
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 405 reviews
Enjoy Japanese history, traditions, and the seasonal beauties from a rickshaw with our staff's omotenashi (hospitality). Our staff, with a rich knowledge of the city, will help make a special memory for your trip. We will take you to see interesting things you would not find in guidebooks or on websites.
2. Omakase Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
You can enjoy the wonderful view only in Kamakura from a hiking trail, above all, to walk peaks surrounding three areas of north, east, and west in Kamakura. In this tour, through a walking based on the hiking course from Kita-Kamakura to Hase-dera Temple, you can enjoy the rich nature and the profound history and culture at the same time.
3. Samurai Project
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 55 reviews
SAMURAI Project offers premium programs to experience the genuine Japanese Culture. The old Zen temple Kigen-in will be reserved as a venue exclusively for this program. 1. Zen meditation with the lecture of the Zen philosophy and the art 2. Swordsmanship program to realize the concept of Kenzen-Ichinyo 3. Learn how to appreciate the Japanese sword with the swordsmith master “Masamune”
Reviewed By Muneta
座禅、静かな畳敷きの寺での本格的な座禅は今回が初めてだった。15分ほどの座禅を三回行う、胡座をかいても良いし、椅子に座っての座禅でも良い。和尚さんの禅の心の話を前後に聞けば、世の中の些事を忘れ、スッキリと新たな力をもらった気がします。筆で円相を描いたり、お茶も和菓子と一服いただけます。一度の体験をお勧めします。This was my first time of doing Zazen(Meditation)at special Tatami-mat room in the Buddhism temple,where has very calm feeling. It takes just 15 minutes with crossed-legged-seated(or on small-chair-sitting ) as one cycle practice—you do three cycles. Before and After you can listen to priests’s special speech in English. Simultaneously you can experience wrighting caligulafer(only one ideographs, Chinese character )and enjoy simple tea with Japanese sweets as well.I feel I could be free from any worldly sins and get mysterious energy after that . I recommend you to try it when you are in Kamakura.
4. Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,033 reviews
This nearly 47-foot bronze statue of Amida Buddha is the second largest Buddha statue in Japan.
Reviewed By jeanettekz - Munich, Germany
After reading about some guided tours from northern Kamakura down through the hiking trails to the Buddha, we decided to just try and do it on our own. We were very happy we did because the peace and quiet of doing it as a couple was wonderful. Finishing our hike with the Buddha felt slightly triumphant. We didn't go inside of the Buddha, but it felt like a nice way to finish the day. We went in July and probably got there about mid-day but it wasn't ridiculously crowded, although busy. Very beautiful and impressive up-close. Kamakura was a very fun day trip for us outside of visiting Tokyo--I highly recommend it.
5. Hase-dera Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,716 reviews
This temple is most notable for its wooden statue of Kannon, the 11-headed goddess of mercy, but it also has a lovely garden and pond, and a viewing platform with a great city view.
Reviewed By Suzu1996
Japanese follows English. Located just a short distance from Hase Station, this is a famous temple with a very beautiful garden and an observation deck spot with a view of Kamakura. It was a very hot day in August, but the precinct was very cool and didn't make us feel the heat of summer. This temple has a lot of Jizo, and a thousand Jizo statues are a sight to behold. Signs have been installed to counter COVID-19, and 'Nagomi Jizo' is also wearing a mask. As the name suggests, this is a very soothing point. I recommend this temple to visit during this season when you want to feel the coolness. 以下、日本語です。 長谷駅からすぐのところにあり、非常に綺麗な庭園と鎌倉を一望できる展望台スポットなどがある有名なお寺です。 ８月で気温も非常に高い日でしたが、夏の暑さを感じさせない非常に涼しさを感じるお寺でした。 このお寺には非常に多くのお地蔵様がおり、千体地蔵は圧巻です。 COVID-19対策として看板を設置しているほか、和み地蔵もマスクをしています。名前の通り非常に和ませてくれるポイントになっていました。 涼しさを感じたいこの時期に安心して参拝できるおすすめのお寺です。
6. Kencho-ji Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 531 reviews
Founded in 1253 by a Chinese priest, this temple, notable for its bell (a national treasure) and Zen garden, was the first Zen temple in the city and is ranked number one of the city's five most powerful temples.
Reviewed By yshargal - Haifa, Israel
One of the main temples of Kamakura. Set in beautiful gardens with the backdrop of the mountains. Recommend. I visited it together with the nearby Tsuruagoka Hachiman-gu. The Kencho-Ji is the farthest from the Kamakura train station. I took bus no2 to the Kencho-Ji. Then I walked a few minutes to the Hachiman-gu. From there I walked about 10 minutes to the train station.
7. Hokokuji Temple (Takedera Temple)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 701 reviews
Reviewed By scotthumphries - Canberra, Australia
Although it can be somewhat busy with many visitors, this centrally located temple is worth a visit. The lovely bamboo forest and the beautiful gardens are highlights, as is the peaceful tea house.
8. VASARA Kimono Rental , Kamakura Ekimae
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
9. Meigetsuin (Hydrangea Temple)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 422 reviews
Reviewed By 840gabrielh - Bellaire, United States
Located close to city center, this somewhat hidden park represents an oasis of tranquility and serenity. As you enter the gate, you cross a little bridge and scend towards the garden, a few dozen feet above street level. By the time you reach the first few hydrangea bushes, you are surrounded by trees, bushes and the garden. The path meanders between the hydrangeas and other, beautiful flowers and eventually opens up to a clearing, where this well preserved Zen Buddhist temple stands, surrounded by the usual gift and souvenir shops and the sshops that sell prayers you eventually place in the appropriate places around the temple. There are a few benches, where you can rest and watch humanity pass by. One of the nicer stops in our visit.
10. Kamakura Seaside Park Yuigahama Area
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