Kamakura Travel Guide: 00 Must-See Places

📍Jomyoji Temple (浄妙寺, Jōmyōji) 
Kamakura, Japan
Admission fee: 100yen
Operating hours: 9:00 AM–4:30 PM
📷: June 10, 2023

Kamakura locations we went on June 10:

1. Meigetsu-in 明月院 500yen, extremely crowded, I don’t recommend going especially on a weekend.

2. Buy senbei from Raijindō Kita-Kamakura 雷神堂 北鎌倉店

3. Kencho-ji 建長寺 500yen; “Kencho-ji is considered the most important of the ‘Kamakura Gozan’ or ‘Five Great Zen Temples’. It is also the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan.”

4. Hokokuji Temple 報国寺 300yen or 900yen with matcha drink

5. Jomyoji 浄明寺 100yen quite small, it has a lovely little café with a beautiful view of a Japanese garden.

6. Komachi-dori Street 小町通り

7. ドロップイン restaurant/cafe, BBQ with friends

8. Meigetsu-in 明月院 500yen, extremely crowded, I don’t recommend going especially on a weekend.

9. Buy senbei from Raijindō Kita-Kamakura 雷神堂 北鎌倉店

10. Kencho-ji 建長寺 500yen; “Kencho-ji is considered the most important of the ‘Kamakura Gozan’ or ‘Five Great Zen Temples’. It is also the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan.”

11. Hokokuji Temple 報国寺 300yen or 900yen with matcha drink

12. Former Residence of Marquis Kachō Hironobu 旧華頂宮邸 Can’t go in, very little to see outside.

13. Jomyoji 浄明寺 100yen quite small, it has a lovely little café with a beautiful view of a Japanese garden.

14. Komachi-dori Street 小町通り

15. ドロップイン restaurant/cafe, BBQ with friends

‘Five Great Zen Temples’ – including Kencho-ji, Engaku-ji, Jufuku-ji, Jochi-ji and Jomyo-ji – of which, three are discussed below – along with the grand Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu, Kamakura’s most important Shinto site.

Kamakura, the “Little Kyoto” of Eastern Japan.

Kamakura was once the political capital of Japan, from 1185 to 1333 during the rule of the Kamakura shogunate.

ide the charming seaside Enoden train
Gaze upon the Great Buddha of Kamakura
Wash your money at Zeniarai Benten Shrine and get rich!
Enter the sacred world through the torii gates of Sasuke Inari Shrine
Eat Kamakura street food along Komachi Dori
Stroll through the bamboo forest of Hokokuji Temple
Fill up on seafood, like the local specialty shirasu
Join a Japanese cooking class in Kamakura
Marvel at the gardens of Meigetsuin (a.k.a. Hydrangea Temple)
Visit the power spot, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Soak up some sun at Yuigahama Beach
Try the Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, shojin ryori
Explore Benten Cave and enjoy seasonal flowers at Hasedera Temple
Take home a piece of Kamakura's carved lacquerware
Pick up Hato Sabure (pigeon-shaped sable cookies) as a souvenir snack