The perks and efficiency of Japanese rail transport allow for a range of accessible, deeply engaging day trips from Tokyo. An hour by train from the crush of Tokyo Station is the charming town of Kamakura, home to one of Japan’s most widely recognized religious icons—the 13.35-meter-tall Great Buddha of Kamakura. In this half-day Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo, we’ll visit this massive bronze structure as well as some of Kamakura’s other important temples and shrines, such as Hase Temple and Tsurugaoka-Hachimangu Shrine. Depending on the weather, we’ll walk within Kamakura or take the local electric railway part of the way there.

Once our train arrives in Kamakura, we will head to Hasedera (Hase Temple), home to lovely gardens and a view over the bay. Along the path to the temple’s main buildings, we’ll see hundreds of jizo, statues of the Jizo Bodhisattva, who is believed to accompany the souls of deceased children. At this point in the tour, we’ll sit for tea and traditional Japanese snacks to discuss the Jodo sect of Buddhism to which Hasedera belongs.

After Hasadera, we will head over to Kotoku-in, host to the iconic Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kamakura Daibutsu). The bronze statue dates back to 1252 and was initially housed within a temple hall. Unfortunately, typhoons destroyed the temple and buildings, but the Buddha survived unharmed and has been sitting outdoors since 1495. Today, green with age, this is Japan’s second-tallest bronze Buddha; the first is at the temple Todai-ji in Nara, outside Kyoto (where we also have a Nara Tour). Kotoku-in may be our last stop, unless we manage to keep up the pace--in which case we may be able to fit in one last visit for the day at the Tsurugaoka-Hachimangu Shrine before heading back to Kamakura Station. 

You may, of course, return to Tokyo on the same train as your expert, however, we encourage you to stay in Kamakura to have lunch or spend some of the afternoon visiting other attractions.

At the end of our Kamakura day trip from Tokyo, we will emerge with an enhanced knowledge of this important historical town and gain a better understanding of the relevance of its temples and shrines, as well as appreciate the serenity and great beauty on display.