Top 50 Things to Do in the Shonan/Kamakura Area
The Shonan/Kamakura area is less than 1 hour away from Tokyo. You can enjoy visiting historical temples and the ocean, experiences that a city like Tokyo can't easily offer.
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21. Feed kites while eating Enoshima-don
Enoshima-don is simmered turban shells over rice with egg and dashi. If you eat it at a restaurant with an outdoor terrace, make sure to order fish head or crab soup. When you're done with the soup, you can throw the leftover fish head or crab shell into the sky. Surprisingly enough, more often than not a kite will swoop down and catch it!
HP: uomitei.com/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 2-5-7 Enoshima, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)
22. Have an eating tour along Komachi Street
Once you get off the train at Kamakura Station, take the east exit to find Komachi Street, full of gift shops and restaurants, on your left. It's always bustling and full of people. There are Japanese-style gift shops selling hand towels and incense, shops specializing in Japanese-style pickles, senbei shops, as well as trendy cafes and a gelato shop. There's so much variety there you're sure to find something you'll like!
23. Buy cute Kamakura souvenirs
One of the souvenirs Kamakura is known for is this cookie, the Hato Sabure, which is made with lots of frehs butter. "Hato" means dove. At the Toyoshimaya ship, you can purchase a cute key holder in the shape of the famous cookie!
HP: www.hato.co.jp/index.html (Japanese Only)
Address: 2-11-19 Komachi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)
24. Have some senbei on Komachi Street
You'll notice the aroma of soy sauce-flavored senbei, or Japanese rice crackers, coming from Kamakura Ichiban-ya when you stroll down Komachi Street. They offer more than 100 kinds of senbei, including a super spicy kind. You can buy a freshly roasted senbei as well as packaged ones, so you can enjoy your stroll with a steaming hot senbei in your hand!
Address: 2-7-36 Komachi, Kamakura, Kanagawa (Google Map)
25. Try SUP
PIXTA
SUP is the acronym for "Stand-up Paddle Surfing," a sport that's been gaining popularity in the Enoshima area lately. SUP uses a surfboard that's bigger than those used in regular surfing. You use a paddle to move yourself forward. You can take a 3 hour trial class.
HP: www.chotto-yacht.com/program/taiken/sup/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 1-12-4 Katase Kaigan, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)
26. Try the Tenen Hiking Trail
PIXTA
The Tenen Hiking Trail is about 6km long and connects Kita-Kamakura Station, Kenchoji Temple, the Tenen rest area, Zuisenji Temple, and Kamakura-guu. It has great views and you can find a statue of a tengu, a mythical long-nosed gobline, at Hanzobo Point. At the Shojoken Observatory, you can enjoy an amazing view of Sagami Bay and even see Mt. Fuji if the weather is clear. You can also have oden at the tea house in the rest area located on the Tenen Ridge.
27. Hop on the Enoden Line
The Enoden line is a very popular railway connecting Fujisawa Station, Enoshima Station, and Kamakura Station run by the Enoshima Electric Railway company. It runs on the road in Enoshima, passing by cars and people, and passes right in front of the sea at Kamakura High School Station. It also passes through a tunnel at Gokurakuji Temple. If you buy a one-day pass called the Noriori-kun, the 34 minute ride is a steal. Check out the fashionable sparrow by the exit at Kamakura Station!
HP: www.enoden.co.jp/flangu/e1top.htm
28. Pay a visit to Oofuna-Kannon
Oofuna-Kannon is a statue of the Goddess of Kannon that stands close to Oofuna Station. You can look up at her through the train's window when it passes by. While it looks pretty big, it's actually just the upper half of her body standing at 25 meters tall. The image of the white statue of the gracious Kannon against the blue sky is a beautiful sight.
HP: oofuna-kannon.or.jp/en/index.html
Address: 1-5-3 Okamoto, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)
29. Ride the Shonan Monorail
The Shonan Monorail is a very rare type of monorail as it's suspended. It connects the 6.6 km between Oofuna Station and Enoshima Station in about 15 minutes. Its red and silver coloring is very beautiful against the green background. It's a little shaking, but seeing the Shonan/Kamakura scenery from above is a unique experience. There's also a French patisserie shop called Les Choux by Nishi-Kamakura Station that's known for its delicious pudding.
HP: www.shonan-monorail.co.jp/ (Japanese Only)
30. Eat curry rice while overlooking the ocean at Shichirigahama
There are many restaurants along the Shichirigahama coast, but among them is Sangosho, a curry rice restaurant that's highly recommended. Its terrace tables have a beautiful ocean view, and you'll feel like you're in Hawaii due to the ambiance and the staff's Hawaiian dress. In the evenings, they light torches for an even more romantic mood. Their must-try dishes are the beef salad and the garlic French fries.
HP: www.sangosho.net/moana.html (Japanese Only)
Address: 3-1-2 Shichirigahama-Higashi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)
31. Eat curry rice at Komachi Street
When you mention curry rice in Kamakura, everyone thinks of the restaurant Callaway! It's always full of people, to the point that they have lines on the weekends. They serve large portions, so it's perfect for when you're really hungry. If you don't want to eat much, order the small, which gets you about 300 grams of rice. The somewhat-retro ambiance is also enjoyable. Try the cheese curry!
HP: tabelog.com/kanagawa/A1404/A140402/14000589/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 2-12-20 Komachi, Kamakura city(Google Map)
32. Buy Japanese confectionery
Other famous gifts from Enoshima are sweet bean jelly made with seaweed or dried sardines made into a tatami-like sheet, but the treat called Enoden Monaka from Ougiya is also highly recommended. Monaka is a wafer filled with anko, and the Enoden kind has 5 flavors: sesame, plum, yuzu, smooth anko, and grainy anko. The packaging is also very cute! An actual Enoden train car is also displayed inside the shop.
HP: tabelog.com/kanagawa/A1404/A140403/14015849/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 1-6-7 Katase Kaigan, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)
33. Visit the only lighthouse specialty shop in Japan
The Lighthouse Keeper is a specialty shop on Subana Street, Enoshima, where you can buy lighthouse replicas from around the world as well as a variety of marine goods. They also make their original lighthouse replicas, including versions of both the old and new Enoshima lighthouses. It's great as a gift for your special someone, since it could be given with the sentiment of "I want to be your lighthouse."
HP: pws.prserv.net/todai/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 〒251-0035 1-12-23 Katase Kaigan, Fujisawa city(Google Map)
34. Enjoy delicious pancakes while gazing at the ocean
The restaurant Bills is very popular in Japan and is well-known for its pancakes. If you have the time when you're strolling along Shichirigahama, you should stop by and try some of their ricotta cheese pancakes! You should reserve your table if possible because there is usually a line. It opens at 7 am, so it's also great for breakfast.
HP: bills-jp.net/#shichirigahama (Japanese Only)
Address: 〒248-0026 1-1-1 Shichirigahama, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)
35. Enjoy an izakaya at Fujisawa Station
There are many good eateries in Fujisawa, but Kyuushou is a well-established izakaya that has been loved by locals for many years. All the dishes displayed look so delicious that it might be hard to pick what to order, but you should try the okara and the tamagoyaki! Okara is made from tofu and tamagoyaki is an omelet made with Japanese seasoning like dashi. You'll be able to comfortably enjoy the izakaya ambiance there. However, it's very popular, so you should call ahead to reserve a table.
HP: tabelog.com/kanagawa/A1404/A140404/14002834/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 1-17-2 Kugenumatachibana, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)
36. Taste your souvenirs from Kamakura before you buy them
If you're not sure what to buy as your souvenir from Kanagawa, stop by Mameya, a snack shop that uses different beans to make their treats. You can sample them so you can decide which ones you want to buy as a gift and maybe even for yourself! They last long and they're sold in small packages, so they're very easy to buy as gifts.
HP: www.mame-mame.com/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 1-5-38 Yukinoshita, Kamakura city(Google Map)
37. Visit Kenchoji Temple
Kenchoji Temple is the main temple of the Kenchoji sect of the Rinzai school of Buddhism and the No. 1 among the Kamakura Five Mountains Zen Temples. The main gate, the large triple gate, the Buddhist shrine, the lecture hall, and the abbot's chamber are lined up in a straight line. The triple gate is especially stunning. The tall Juniper tree in front of the temple building is 750 years old. Kenchoji is very beautiful, especially the ceiling of the lecture hall where the ceiling is painted with dragon and clouds, and the garden behind the abbot's chair is also beautiful.
HP: www.kenchoji.com/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 〒247-8525 8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)
38. Enjoy the onsen in Enoshima
Enoshima Island Spa is located right across Bentenbashi Bridge towards Enoshima on the right. They have a variety of options such as an onsen, an onsen pool, spa services, and more. They have rental swimsuits as well in case you didn't bring one. If the weather is good enough, then you might be able to watch the sunset over the horizon behind Mt. Fuji. Women get discounts on Mondays, so you might want to go then.
Address: 〒251-0036 2-1-6 Enoshima, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)
39. Eat tako senbei in Enoshima
Tako senbei is a rice cracker with octopus. This shop is always crowded with customers on the road towards Enoshima Shrine. They press an entire octopus into a thin senbei sheet under 185°C heat! You can buy tako senbei as well as jellyfish senbei!
HP: www.murasaki-imo.com/contents/about/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 〒251-0036 1-4-10 Enoshima, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)
40. Ring the Ryuren no Kane with a loved one
Ryuren no Kane means "the bell of dragon love," and it's become a power spot for romance. It's on top of the Koibito no Oka (Lovers' Hill). The view is amazing! It's said that you'll be in love for eternity if you connect a padlock that has the couple's name on it to the wire fence after you ring the bell together. The gift shop nearby sells padlocks.
HP: enoshimajinja.or.jp/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 〒251-0036 2-3-8 Enoshima, Fujisawa city (Google Map)
Next： No.41-50 Further exciting spots and activities in the Shonan Kamakura area
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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