Located just 50 kilometers from Tokyo, Kamakura is ideal for a day trip, especially if you want to visit Kamakura with kids. The attractive coastal town offers a wide beach with waves where kids can play, as well as tranquility, nature and a cozy center full of stalls and wooden facades. Hidden among the green hills are impressive temples and shrines, making Kamakura a nice change from busy Tokyo.
Kamakura with kids
#1 The beach
Imagine a city by the sea with temples AND a beach. That’s Kamakura! Kamakura has several beaches. The nicest ones are listed here:
Yuigahama: On this beach we were. It is large with soft sand. In summer there are beach houses with showers and toilets. The waves are usually friendly. You can also rent a bodyboard here on the beach: a small surfboard you can lie on with your belly. Highly recommended! Kids can enjoy playing in the water and surfing the waves with this. Great for swimming and searching for shells.
Zaimokuza: Located next to Yuigahama and is often a little quieter. The water is shallow along the shore, so enjoy playing with a bucket and shovel. Sometimes you can see little crabs among the rocks.
Shichirigahama: Here you often see surfers. Swimming is usually not allowed, but it is super for great photos. With clear weather, you can even spot Mount Fuji!
Inamuragasaki: Small park by the sea. Perfect for a short break and a beautiful sunset.
#2 Tour with a samurai
In Kamakura, we slept in a guesthouse whose owner is a samurai. A samurai is a Japanese warrior. Of course he is not really a samurai anymore, but he still dresses like one. You can read more about his stay later in this blog. We also did a day tour with him, which allowed us to learn more about Kamakura, as well as the history of Japan and the samurai.
We started with a big, old map of Kamakura, which samurai Bushi told us more about. He speaks English well, so he is easy to understand. Bushi is also an excellent storyteller, so the kids really enjoyed listening as well.
Then we went on the road: through alleys, to the most beautiful places where we learned and enjoyed a lot. And of course the kids thought it was incredibly cool to walk through the streets with a real samurai warrior!
#3 Big Buddha, Daibutsu
The Great Buddha of Kamakura, Daibutsu, is the famous bronze statue on the grounds of Temple Kōtoku-in. The statue stands in the open air. This is very special in Japan because the hall in which it once stood was destroyed by storms and a tsunami in the 15th century and never rebuilt.
The Buddha is about 11.5 meters high, so it is huge for kids to see. Around it is a beautiful park where you can cool off. Tip: come early or just late in the afternoon to get a picture without groups of people in front of your lens.
#4 The Hasedera Temple
This is a beautiful temple on a hill by the sea. It is also interesting for kids here, as there are ponds with large, colored koi carp, paths with stone lanterns and many stairs up. Who gets to the top first! Once at the top, you have a beautiful view of the city and the sea.
Inside is a very large wooden statue of Kannon (the goddess who helps and listens). She has eleven heads on top of her head, as if she has extra eyes and ears to hear everyone. Outside, you sometimes hear wind bells and see greenery everywhere.
#5 The Benten-kutsu cave
On the grounds of the Hasedera temple, you will also find the Benten-kutsu cave. A small cave that often piques the interest of kids, as well as being wonderfully cooling. You walk through low passageways (duck for a moment!) with figurines carved out of the rock. The cave is dedicated to Benzaiten, the goddess of music and luck. At the very back you can place a miniature statue with your name or wish.
Beware: some paths have many stairs and inside the cave it is sometimes low and dark. Stay together and don’t run – you can do that outside again 😉
#6 Taking the train
The Enoden train runs along the coastline between Kamakura and Fujisawa. It is a nostalgic old train. You ride along the sea and a bit past residential houses. A full ride takes about 30 minutes, and during the day a train runs every 10 minutes. You can stop at the Great Buddha and the beach, among other places.
Family-friendly hotel Kamakura
We stayed in Kamakura at Samurai Guest House Irodori. This is a very small guesthouse with three bedrooms and a shared small living room with kitchen. As you read earlier, Bushi, the owner, is a samurai warrior. He dresses like a samurai and is very hospitable. When you step into his small living room, you immediately feel the positive energy he radiates.
Rooms are traditional and have futon beds (thin mattresses). You share the bathroom with other guests. In the morning, everyone sits on cushions around the low table in the living room and a traditional breakfast is served. It is also possible to have dinner (highly recommended!) – you need to indicate this in advance. The guesthouse is within walking distance of the train station, so it’s ideal if you’re coming by train from Tokyo.
This guesthouse was very much remembered by our kids and highly recommended for families who want to learn about Japanese culture.
Of course, there are several other family-friendly accommodations in Kamakura where you can stay with the family. We list the top rated family-friendly accommodations in Kamakura below.
Budget accommodation: Gloce
Mid-range accommodation: KAMAKURA DEL COSTA
Luxury accommodation: KAMAKURA Hotel
Also check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Kamakura.
Tips Kamakura with kids
Family-friendly restaurant Kamakura
You can also have a great meal in Kamakura with kids. There are several nice family-friendly restaurants. We list some of them:
Aonova: This is a restaurant on the beach. Ideal with kids because they can play on the beach before and after dinner while mom and dad sit on the terrace with a drink.
There is a very good vibe. From benches to high tables, you can choose where you want to sit. The food is a little different from Japanese, namely Mexican. Delicious taste! You can eat tacos that include steak and chicken. Oh yes, and don’t forget the delicious nachos!
Good Mellows: Good Mellows is a burger restaurant. There they sell – you guessed it – burgers of all shapes and sizes, with tasty fries to go with them. That (almost) always does well with kids! Something different from Japanese food. And the good thing is that it is located near the beach. So after a well-filled belly, you can get a breath of fresh air on the beach.
Sanrio Cafe: A cafe dedicated to Hello Kitty! You can get cakes, bubble tea and sweet waffles, as well as burgers. And all in the style of Hello Kitty and friends. In the front is a store, but if you walk a little further, you’ll come to the counter with food and drinks, and at the very back is a large space where you can sit comfortably. A must-visit for many kids (and big kids)!
Best travel time Kamakura
The best travel time to visit Kamakura is in July and August. This is the official swimming period. During these months, the beach houses are open and a lifeguard is present. Spring (April) is also beautiful, with the cherry blossoms in bloom.
We ourselves went to Kamakura in July. It was quite hot (between 30 and 35 degrees). Lovely to take a cooling dip in the sea. When we wanted to see more of the area, we did it in the morning so we could cool off in the water in the afternoon.
Transportation in Kamakura
To get to Kamakura, most people use the train from Tokyo. This one takes about one hour. When you get there, you can take a cab. Uber also works in Japan, as does the similar app “Go.
We rented a car in Tokyo and drove there ourselves. If you drive directly without stopping, you will be there in one hour. We took our time and stopped at several places along the way. That’s the advantage of a rental car: you get to places you would never have been otherwise.
Be careful: in Japan, people drive on the left.
About the author: I am Ilse and together with my husband Rob and my 2 kids Jay and Kate we try to take as many beautiful trips to faraway destinations as possible. You can also follow our operation on our Instagram page 4.opreis. In addition, in daily life I am a travel planner, working with the person in question to get from an appropriate travel plan to the ideal vacation in a few steps.
