Continuing from the last post about “Hōdai Temple” half-day tour, here comes another “Half-day Tour in Kamakura”! All the summer goodness should be encountered in the Kamakura area. It’s a place that brings to mind the seaside town ambiance of Hayao Miyazaki’s “Valley of the Wind”. Let’s explore its beauty together!
Watch the video first 👏🏼👏🏼 Tap below 👇🏻
Recommended Transportation – Enoden Line
When moving around the Kamakura area, I highly recommend getting the Enoden Line’s day pass, only JPY800. So, with just four rides, you’ve already made it worth your while!
The key is that this line connects major attractions from Kamakura to Enoshima. You can stroll through “Komachi Street” in Kamakura, see the “Great Buddha of Kamakura” in Hase, catch the sunset at Shichirigahama, and experience scenes like the Sakura Avenue from the opening credits at Kamakura High School. Besides tourists, it’s also used by local residents, students commuting to school, making it a route where you can truly feel the local vibe.
Kiss Fish Raw Beef Rice Bowl – Hokkaido Kitchen YOSHIMI Fujisawa Branch
Don’t ask me how we ended up in Fujisawa, but anyhow, after getting lost, we arrived at the department store next to Fujisawa Station, hungry. This place had the dish I wanted to try, the Kamakura specialty “Kiss Fish”. We quickly got seated and served! The plentiful Kiss Fish with raw beef paired with a raw egg yolk; the beef wasn’t fishy at all, very tender, and definitely satisfying!
Great Buddha of Kamakura – Kōtoku-in Temple
From “Fujisawa,” take the Enoshima Electric Railway to “Hase” station. It’s about a 15-minute walk to Kotoku-in, and the admission fee per person is JPY300.
The entire environment is wheelchair accessible with ramps and accessible toilets, so wheelchair users can visit comfortably.
Personally, I prefer the overall atmosphere of Todai-ji Temple. Here, I’m more inclined to explore the dessert shops along the way! 😂
Komachi Street Shopping District
This area is fantastic! A straight street where you can eat and buy souvenirs. Let me recommend a shop I think is great ❤️
This shop, “Kamakura Goro Komachi-dori Main Store,” has delicious half-moon cakes! I came here based on a YouTube recommendation. Due to limited time, I chose the peach 🍑 flavor, the smallest box (five pieces), and quickly checked out.
Summer limited 🍑 flavor 
Crispy cookies, delicious!
I regretted not buying more boxes after eating them in Taiwan 🥲 The biscuits are incredibly crispy, making a sound when bitten into, and the peach-flavored cream is generously layered. It’s definitely among my top three souvenirs!
Next, there’s Merci’s pudding. The shop gives you a small bowl to enjoy it. The rich flavor of black sugar combined with creamy pudding is perfect for beating the summer heat!
Afterward, we also visited the highly recommended “Gyubei Sushi with three types of semi-raw beef,” “Giraffe Beef Crepe,” and finally, “Daibutsu Suzu-yaki ‘Tom
oya’. If you like them, you should give them a try!
Kamakura High School Front
Actually, our schedule was a bit delayed that day, and when we reached Kamakura High School Station, the sunset was almost gone QQ. But I must say, modern technology is incredible; the iPhone 14 Pro still managed to capture this wonderful level crossing scene (tears dried up).
But, it’s highly recommended to come here while there’s still sunlight. When we passed by earlier and saw the vast sea and its glistening waves, it was truly soothing. Coupled with the sound of passing trains, it’s a true representation of a Japanese lifestyle. (Oh! By the way, I also suggest that unless you want to see high school students [huh?], you can get off at the nearby station to avoid the dreadful crowds.)
Shonan Monorail – Overhead Single Rail Tram
Finally, we took the monorail from “Enoshima” to “Ofuna” station, then changed to JR to return to Tokyo’s city center. The most distinctive feature of this monorail is its track being above you, and when it leaves the station, it’s all suspended underneath – no wonder my bottom felt cool throughout the journey XD
The monorail station at “Enoshima” is very modern, equipped with accessible elevators, restrooms, and boarding ramps (just inform the driver). However, the journey itself feels quite shaky and forceful; I’d suggest friends accompanying you to hold on slightly for support.
This encounter with Kamakura during summer left a great impression on me, but it’s a pity we only allocated half a day. Next time, we’ll plan for a full day to fully enjoy the slow-paced life here. Exploring dessert shops and taking a stroll by the beach, maybe heading to Enoshima wouldn’t be bad! See you next time, Kamakura! 😊
– Mr. David