Tokyo's energy pulls you in fast — but after a few days, a moment comes when you want a little distance. An hour or so south, time moves gently in Kamakura: the old samurai capital held between green hills and the Pacific, and the birthplace of Zen in Japan. Piecing the trip together yourself by train, bus and foot takes more effort than it looks. The Kamakura & Enoshima one-day bus tour, offered through Viator, arranges the way there for you.
Kotoku-in and the Great Buddha of Kamakura
The first stop is the Great Buddha of Kotoku-in, seated in the open air since the thirteenth century. Rising more than eleven metres, it has come through earthquakes and tsunami and still holds its quiet. In the sea breeze, simply looking up is enough to stop you where you stand.
Hasedera and the view over Sagami Bay
Next comes Hasedera, known for its gardens and for the view over Sagami Bay from its grounds. The temple paths were laid for walking slowly; past the hall of Kannon statues, your gaze slips out to the sea where the ships of the samurai once crossed.
Riding the Enoden to Enoshima
A small railway that has run this coastline for over a century, the Enoden carries the tour on to Enoshima. It threads so close to houses and beaches that the window itself becomes part of the sightseeing. Rocking gently along, you draw slowly nearer to the island of shrines and sea cliffs.
What the tour takes care of
All the travel between the three stops is left to an air-conditioned bus, with an English-speaking guide who fills in the background of the Zen and samurai culture along the way. Tracing the same route on your own by train means far more walking — and far more planning.