What Is Kamakura? Samurai History, Zen Temples and the Sea
This guide is for visitors who have heard of Kamakura and want to know what kind of place it is before they pick a day. It covers the history, the setting, the food and the seasons, using the Kamakura City Tourist Association's English pages read on 2026-10-04.
A former capital by the sea
The association describes Kamakura as a relaxed city a short distance from Tokyo, with a mild climate. It is one of Japan's oldest cities and one of its former capitals, alongside Nara and Kyoto. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the sea on the fourth.
It was the birthplace of Japan's first samurai government, the Kamakura shogunate, which lasted from 1185 to 1333. Minamoto no Yoritomo was appointed shogun by the Imperial Court in 1192. After his death the Hojo clan took control of the area.
Samurai, Zen and the temples
The association says trade with Song and Yuan China brought Buddhist statues, lacquerware and Zen Buddhism to Kamakura. The samurai adopted Zen as part of building their power. Temples were not only places for memorial services. They were also where samurai families trained in spirit and learned painting, sculpture and the tea ceremony.
Yabusame, the art of shooting three arrows in turn from a galloping horse, also began in Kamakura. The association says you can still see it at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine as a Shinto ritual.
After the shogunate fell in 1333, Kamakura's influence faded from the mid-15th century. In the 17th century Tokugawa Ieyasu restored major sites such as Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and Kenchoji Temple. From the 19th century the town became known for beaches, resorts and holiday homes.
What you can do there
The association lists zazen, which is seated Zen meditation, Kamakurabori lacquer carving, matcha, kimono wearing and water sports. The main street from Kamakura Station to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is lined with shops and restaurants along Komachi Street and Wakamiya Oji.
There are several places with a view of Mount Fuji, including Inamuragasaki Park and the Ten-en Hiking Course. The association also notes that visitors crowd into a few areas, and overtourism there has become a problem.
What to eat
The association names four specialties. Shojin cuisine is Buddhist cooking with grains and vegetables and no meat or seafood. Shirasu is whitebait caught in Sagami Bay, eaten raw or boiled over rice as a shirasu bowl. Kamakura vegetables are grown in and around the city and sold at the Kamakura farmers' market and local supermarkets. Wagashi are traditional sweets made from ingredients such as adzuki beans, rice and agar, usually served with green tea.
Seasons and weather
The association gives the average annual temperature as around 17°C. It says winters are relatively warm, so you can visit at any time of year.
- Spring: about 13°C in March, 16°C in April and 19°C in May. Cherry blossoms begin in April, along with the Kamakura Festival.
- Summer: the rainy season is June and July, and hydrangeas are in full bloom in June. July and August often pass 35°C. The association suggests sightseeing in the morning and going to museums in the daytime. Beaches and temporary beach restaurants open from 1 July to 31 August.
- Autumn: September is still warm at about 27°C. October averages around 21°C, so bring a light coat. The leaves are best from late November to early December.
- Winter: about 10°C in December and 7°C in January and February. Many people visit in January for the first shrine or temple visit of the year.
Manners the city asks for
The association's guidelines ask visitors to be quiet at temples and shrines, stay on hiking paths and take their rubbish with them. They warn that hawks may snatch food in parks and on beaches. Street smoking is banned in designated zones, including the route from Kamakura Station to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. A person who ignores an order to stop faces a 2,000 yen fine.
What we could not verify, and therefore left out
- Entry fees and opening hours for individual temples.
- This year's exact flower and leaf dates.
- Restaurant names and prices.
Related guides
- How do you get to Kamakura from Tokyo and the airports?
- How do you get around Kamakura by train, bus and day pass?
Sources
All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.
- About Kamakura (Kamakura City Tourist Association) — (history, culture and food)
- Seasons (Kamakura City Tourist Association) — (temperatures and events by season)
- Respect Kamakura Guidelines (Kamakura City Tourist Association) — (manners and the smoking rule)