Simplest
JR Yokosuka Line
Tokyo Station, direct
- Time55 minutes
- Stops atKamakura Station
- ThenWalk or Enoden
Cost for your party
Tokyo to Kamakura by train, pass or tour bus
Weigh up 3 choices
Price a day with the transport included
Enter how many are traveling and compare three bus-based days.
- Bus day tripTemple tickets · a head, starting at $51
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View - Coach and trainEnoden ride · a head, starting at $58
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View - Enoden dayCoach and tram · a head, starting at $54
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Starting prices from GetYourGuide, converted at the ECB reference rate; the booking page shows the exact sum.
Kamakura sits about an hour south of Tokyo, and the ride is the easy part. Here are the lines, the times, the pass worth buying and the bus day that skips the planning.
Editorial team, kamakuradaytrip.quest · Updated November 1, 2026 · A 6-minute read
Facts first
- TimeAbout an hour by train; 55 minutes from Tokyo Station on the JR Yokosuka Line.1,2
- SimplestJR Yokosuka or Shonan-Shinjuku Line to Kamakura or Kita-Kamakura.3
- PassOdakyu's Freepass is 1,640 yen from Shinjuku and includes the round trip.4,5
- By roadRoads near the sights jam on weekdays and weekends; use trains.6
- No planningA bus day from Tokyo with Hase-dera and Kotoku-in tickets included.
Tokyo to Kamakura in about an hour
The Kamakura City Tourist Association describes the journey in one line: it is about a one-hour train ride from Tokyo, or about 40 minutes from Shin-Yokohama, the nearest Shinkansen stop.1 The Japan National Tourism Organization is more exact for the best-known line, giving 55 minutes from Tokyo Station to Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line.2
That is short enough that Kamakura works as a day out without any overnight bag. You can leave after breakfast, walk the temples and be back in the city for dinner. Odakyu says much the same about the coast as a whole, calling Enoshima and Kamakura a seaside escape just an hour from central Tokyo.7
The same national tourism office adds a warning that is worth taking seriously: a visit can easily fill a whole day, and it recommends staying overnight.8 If you only have one day, the plan below works, but pick your sights before you board rather than on the platform. A short list made the night before turns the ride into part of the plan: you know which station to leave at, which temple opens first, and where lunch will be.
Every way in
Routes, times and catches
| Route | Starts | Time | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| JR Yokosuka Line | Tokyo Station | 55 min | Direct to Kamakura |
| JR Shonan-Shinjuku | Tokyo side | About 1 hr | Kita-Kamakura too |
| Shinkansen & local | Shin-Yokohama | About 40 min | Change trains |
| Odakyu & Enoden | Shinjuku | Romancecar 750 yen | Enoden to Kamakura |
| Bus day tour | Ikebukuro, Shinjuku | 9.5-hr day | Fixed stops |
Times from JNTO and the Kamakura City Tourist Association, the Romancecar charge from Odakyu, and the bus day from the listing; check current timetables before you travel.2,3,1,16
The JR lines and which station to pick
Most visitors use JR. The tourist association tells travelers from outside the city to take the Shonan-Shinjuku Line or the Yokosuka Line, which take about an hour from Tokyo, and to get off at Kamakura or Kita-Kamakura.3 Which of the two stations you choose shapes your day.
Kamakura Station is the main stop, with Komachi Street two minutes on foot from the east exit and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu a 10-minute walk.9,10 Kita-Kamakura, one stop earlier, is where Engakuji and Kenchoji temples are, so a day built around Zen temples can start there.14
Every JR option ends in one of those two stations, and the sights are spread along a line running from the northern temples through the center to the coast at Hase and Enoshima. Decide whether you want to walk south from Kita-Kamakura or begin in the middle and fan out. Our bus day takes the second option and lists Tsurugaoka Hachimangu as its first stop.
Minutes on the train
Minutes by train on the Kamakura routes
Shinjuku, Odakyu and the Enoden
From Shinjuku there is a second way in that finishes by the sea. The Odakyu Line runs as far as Katase-Enoshima, and the Enoden then takes you along the coast to Kamakura.17 The Odakyu Limited Express Romancecar needs its own ticket on top of any pass, 750 yen one way for an adult from Shinjuku to Katase-Enoshima.16
The Enoden is a 10 km railway line connecting Fujisawa and Kamakura, with a tunnel, ocean views and views of Enoshima.18 From Enoshima Station it takes 23 minutes to reach Kamakura Station, and the ride costs 260 yen for an adult.13 On a clear day Mt. Fuji can be seen from the line over Cape Koyurugi.19
This route is longer than the JR line, but it turns the ride into sightseeing, and it lets you do the coast first and the temples second. It also pairs with the Freepass below, which covers both the Odakyu stretch and the Enoden.17
Decision helper
Which way should you go?
Choose by your start point and how much you want to plan
If I want the simplest route
JR Yokosuka Line
Kamakura Station is 55 minutes from Tokyo Station.2
If I start in Shinjuku and want a pass
Odakyu Freepass
If I want the Great Buddha first
Enoden to Hase
If I do not want to plan
A bus day tour
Hase-dera and Kotoku-in tickets are included.
If Traffic worries me
Any train
Roads near the sights are heavily congested.6
Three ways to get here
Yokosuka Line, Freepass or bus day
The Odakyu Freepass, and what else is on offer
The Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass from Shinjuku costs 1,640 yen for adults and 430 yen for children, and is valid for one day.4 It bundles unlimited rides on local trains in the Enoshima-Kamakura area, round-trip discount tickets from Shinjuku, and discounts at temples, aquariums and local attractions.5 The child price covers ages 6 to 11.20
Starting from Fujisawa the pass is 810 yen for adults and 410 yen for children, which suits anyone already staying along that line.21 It covers the Odakyu Line between Fujisawa and Katase-Enoshima plus the whole Enoden, and can be bought no more than one month before the day of use.17,22
The Enoden-only Noriorikun pass costs 800 yen for an adult and 400 yen for a child, and the Shonan Monorail ticket is 610 yen for adults.23,24 Neither includes your trip from Tokyo, which is why the Freepass is the sensible choice if you start in Shinjuku. The Noriorikun pass also earns discounts at Enoshima Sea Candle, Enoshima Aquarium and Hasedera.25
A train day
Tokyo to Kamakura and the coast by rail
Morning
Board the JR train
About an hour from Tokyo to Kamakura or Kita-Kamakura.3
Arrival
Kamakura Station
Komachi Street is 2 minutes from the east exit.9
Late morning
Walk to the shrine
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is a 10-minute walk.10
Midday
Enoden to Hase
Afternoon
On to Enoshima
23 minutes and 260 yen by Enoden.13
Evening
Return to Tokyo
Use the same lines back; a pass covers the local part.5
How far is Kamakura from Tokyo once you are there?
The ride is only part of the distance. From Kamakura Station the Japan National Tourism Organization says many attractions are within walking distance, with a local railway and a monorail serving the rest.2 Komachi Street is two minutes away, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu ten.9,10
For the Great Buddha, ride the Enoden. Kamakura Station to Hase Station takes 5 minutes and costs 200 yen for an adult, and the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in is then a 7-minute walk from Hase.11,12 Hase is also the stop for Hasedera, a 5-minute walk from the station.26
Roads are no help on these short hops. The tourist association says roads near the popular sights are subject to heavy traffic on both weekdays and weekends and recommends public transportation.6 Treat any plan that leans on a taxi between temples with suspicion.
Video
Tokyo to Kamakura without transfers, from Shinjuku and Shibuya
LOST IN JAPAN on YouTube · YouTube stays silent until you press play.
It is about a one-hour train ride from Tokyo or about 40 minutes from Shin-Yokohama Station, the nearest Shinkansen stop.
Checklist
For the trip to Kamakura
Before you board3
- Buy the Freepass up to one month ahead
- Choose Kamakura or Kita-Kamakura
- Check the timetable on the day
On the way3
- Use the Enoden for Hase and Enoshima
- Carry a Suica, PASMO or ICOCA card
- Skip taxis between the temples
A bus day from Tokyo, with tickets included
If timetables are not how you want to spend the day, a bus day takes the planning away. The tour this site sells is a 9.5-hour bus day trip from Tokyo with two starting-location options, Ikebukuro at 7:40 AM and Shinjuku at 8:20 AM, and its only drop-off is the Shinjuku area. It is rated 4.53 from 1,638 reviews and starts from $51.
Hase-dera and Kotoku-in tickets are included, along with an air-conditioned vehicle and an English and Chinese speaking guide. The bus leaves on time, so guests are asked to be there 10 minutes before departure, and if traffic delays the bus the time at the stops is adjusted.
A second option mixes bus and rail. One listing runs a 10-hour day with a coach out of Tokyo and a panoramic train ride on the Enoden at Kamakura Koko-mae, from $58. A third lists the Enoden as included in its title and starts from $54.
FAQ
Asked often, answered briefly.
How long is the train from Tokyo to Kamakura?
Which JR line goes to Kamakura?
The Yokosuka or Shonan-Shinjuku Line.
Both take about an hour from Tokyo and stop at Kamakura and Kita-Kamakura.3
Is there a Kamakura pass from Shinjuku?
How far is Kamakura Station from the Great Buddha?
Should I drive to Kamakura?
Public transport is advised.
Roads near the popular sights are heavily congested on weekdays and weekends.6
Does the Enoden accept IC cards?
Yes.
It accepts Suica, PASMO and ICOCA cards.18
Where does the bus tour start?
At Ikebukuro or Shinjuku.
The listing gives 7:40 AM at Ikebukuro and 8:20 AM at Shinjuku.
Sources
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Getting to Kamakura ↩
- Japan National Tourism Organization · Kamakura ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · JR (Transportation) ↩
- Odakyu Electric Railway · Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass ↩
- Odakyu Electric Railway · Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Getting to Kamakura ↩
- Odakyu Electric Railway · Enoshima and Kamakura ↩
- Japan National Tourism Organization · Kamakura ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Komachi Street ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine ↩
- Enoshima Electric Railway · Access ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Kotokuin Temple (Great Buddha) ↩
- Enoshima Electric Railway · Access ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · JR (Transportation) ↩
- Enoshima Electric Railway · Access ↩
- Odakyu Electric Railway · Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Unlimited Ride Transit Passes ↩
- Enoshima Electric Railway · Access ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Enoshima Electric Railway ↩
- Odakyu Electric Railway · Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass ↩
- Odakyu Electric Railway · Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Unlimited Ride Transit Passes ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Unlimited Ride Transit Passes ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Unlimited Ride Transit Passes ↩
- Enoshima Electric Railway · Noriorikun ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Hasedera Temple ↩
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Unlimited Ride Transit Passes
- Kamakura City Tourist Association · Unlimited Ride Transit Passes
- Japan National Tourism Organization · Kamakura