Kamakura province is conveniently located only 1 hour from Tokyo and is visited by many tourists throughout the year. This article, we will recommend the top 10 cherry blossom viewing spots in Kamakura such as Kotokuin, Haseiji Temple, Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine,… as well as basic information on how to enjoy the blossoms.
Cherry blossom season in Kamakura
Kamakura is located in the south of Kanagawa Prefecture, and there are many attractive sightseeing spots, such as traditional Japanese buildings and ruins, as well as natural scenery that can be enjoyed in all seasons. Kamakura is easily accessible from Tokyo in just one hour, and is visited by many tourists from home and abroad throughout the year.
The best season for cherry blossom viewing is from late March to early April, and the main species that blooms here is the Someiyoshino. There are also early blooming varieties, such as Kawazu cherry blossoms, which can be seen from around February to April, meaning that you can enjoy cherry blossoms in Kamakura for a longer period of time.
Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Kamakura
Kamakura is a place where there are many temples, shrines, Buddhist pavilions and traditional townscapes, and it is really attractive to enjoy the flowers with these streets as a backdrop, so for this reason, we would like to introduce 10 great cherry blossom viewing spots.
1. Tsuruoka Hachimangu (鶴岡八幡宮)
- Map: 2 Chome-1-31 Yukinoshita, Kamakura City
- Open: 5am – 9pm
- Access: 15 minutes walk from Kamakura Station East Exit.
Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine is a shrine located about 10 minutes on foot from Kamakura Station on JR Line. Kamakura was once the seat of the Shogunate from the 12th to 13th centuries, and was a prosperous political centre of Japan.
During the cherry blossom season, Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine has a long season of cherry blossom viewing as it has not only the common Someiyoshino cherry blossoms, but also Kawazu cherry blossoms, which blossom in February earlier than the normal blooming season, and Higan cherry blossoms. There are many different colours of cherry blossoms, such as the red-rose-coloured “Kawasaki Cherry Blossoms” and the white-coloured “Oshima Cherry Blossoms”, so one of the joys of cherry blossom viewing is to discover different kinds of cherry blossoms.
2. Dankazura (段葛)
- Address: Yukinoshita, Kamakura City
- Access: A 5-minutes walk from JR Kamakura Station East Exit.
An old road approximately 500 meters long (the “Dankazura”) leads to the Tsuruoka Hachimangu shrine, and there are some 180 cherry trees along the sides. When the cherry blossom season arrives, this forms a pink road, dazzling shrine visitors.
3. Enkaku-ji Temple (円覚寺)
- Address: 409 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City
- Hours: March to November 8 am – 4:30 pm, December to February 8 am – 4 pm.
- Admission: 300 yen for adults, 100 yen for children
Enkaku-ji Temple built by Hojo Tokimune in 1282, it is a temple of the “Rinzai Sect” (one of the Buddhist sects) for the repose of the souls of those killed in the attempted invasions of Japan by Kublai Khan, which took place on Kyushu in 1274 and 1281.
In spring, cherry blossom bloom all over the temple grounds, and the view with the mountain gate as a backdrop is one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in the area. In addition to Someiyoshino, there are also peony cherry blossoms with eight layers of petals.
4. Hongakuji Temple (本覚寺)
- Address: 1-12-12 Komachi, Kamakura City
- Hours: 9 am – 4 pm
- Access: 3 minutes walk from Kamakura Station East Exit.
Hongakuji Temple was established in 1436 as a temple of the Nichiren Sect (one of the Buddhist sects). Inside the temple, you can see the “Nichiren Shonin Bone Hall” where the remains of the founder, Nichiren Shonin, are located, and the grave of Kamakura’s famous swordsman, Kobayashi Masamune. The deity of Hongakuji Temple is one of the “Seven Gods of Good Luck of Kamakura Enoshima”.
When it comes to cherry blossoms in Honkaku-ji Temple, the cherry blossoms next to the Nichiren Shonin Bone Hall are a must-see. It blooms at the same time as Someiyoshino, so when you visit Kamakura during the cherry blossom season, be sure to visit Honjueji Temple as well!
5. Komyoji Temple (光明寺)
- Address: 6 Chome-17-19 Zaimokuza, Kamakura
- Hours: 7 am – 4 pm
- Access:Approx. a 10-minute bus ride from Kamakura Station
Komyoji Temple was founded in 1243 as a temple of the Pure Land Sect (one of the Buddhist sects). Many powerful people, such as Tokugawa Ieyasu, have worked to preserve the temple.
It is a well-known cherry blossom viewing spot where many people come to enjoy the cherry blossoms during the “Cherry Blossom Viewing Festival” held in late March.
6. Kotoku-in (高徳院)
- Address: 4 Chome-2-28 Hase, Kamakura
- Hours: April to September 8:00-17:30, October to March 8:00-17:00
- Inside the Great Buddha: 8:00 – 16:00
- Admission: Adults 200 yen, Children 100 yen, Inside the Buddha: 20 yen
Kotoku-in is located a 5-10 minute walk from Hase Station, the third station from Kamakura along the Enoden railway line. The Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Kamakura) is located in the area and is a must-see tourist attraction in Kamakura and is visited by many tourists.
During the cherry blossom season, you can see the statue of the Great Buddha contrasting with the colours of the cherry blossoms, which is very impressive. Many cherry blossoms are planted not only in front of the Buddha but also behind it.
7. Kamakura Hasedera (長谷寺)
- Address: 3 Chome-11-2 Hase, Kamakura
- Hours: March to September, 8 am – 5 pm (closed at 5:30), October to February, 8 am – 4:30 pm (closed at 5:00)
- Admission: 300 yen for adults, 100 yen for primary schools students
Hase-kannon is a Jodo sect temple, also known as the “Temple of Flowers”, where you can enjoy cherry blossom in spring, purple sunflowers (hydrangeas) in the rainy season, and maples in autumn, so you can enjoy a variety of natural landscapes in every season.
Cherry blossoms at Haseiji include the Somei Yoshino along the stone path in front of the main hall, and the pink cold scarlet cherry blossoms in front of Amidado Hall. Haseiji Temple is also close to Kotokuin and can be visited together as it is within walking distance.
8. Mount Kamakura (鎌倉山)
Mount Kamakura (Kamakurayama) is a hilly area in the western part of Kamakura City with an elevation of 100m. It takes about 13 minutes by bus from JR Kamakura Station to Tokiwa-guchi Station, and about 200 cherry trees can be seen along the 3km road from here to Kamakura-yama, which is quite spectacular.
9. Kenchoji Temple (建長寺)
- Address: 8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City
- Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Price: 300 yen for adults, 100 yen for children.
Kencho-ji is a Rinzai temple located in the middle of JR Kita-Kamakura Station and Kamakura Station. It is a well-known Zen temple with a large mountain gate and a Japanese garden, and many monks sit and practice Zen meditation here.
In spring, you can see cherry blossom trees blooming in front of the gate and the main hall. There is a hall called “Hanshinbo” in the depth of the temple, and the cherry blossom viewing is famous along this path.
10. Genjiyama Park (源氏山公園)
- Address: 4 Chome-649-1 Ogigayatsu, Kamakura
- Access: 20 minutes walk from Kamakura Station West Exit.
Genji-san Park was once a park related to the Genji family that flourished in Kamakura. The park is also known for its cherry blossoms and maples.
Located in a place surrounded by nature, you can enjoy the beauty of nature as it changes from season to season, from the cherry blossom season in spring to the maple season in autumn. From the park, there are trails leading to “Kitamakura” and “Kotokuin (Kamakura Daibutsu)”, so you can enjoy the beauty of nature while taking a walk.
Kamakura weather during the cherry blossom season
Kamakura is an area with mountains on the north side and the sea on the south side. Since the mountains on the north side block the north wind from blowing in, the maximum temperature during the cherry blossom viewing season in Kamakura is 20℃, which is high compared to Tokyo at the same time. We recommend long-sleeved shirts and thin jackets or down jackets, or clothing that can be easily adjusted to the climate change in the morning and evening.
However, it is important to note that the sea breeze is strong along the Kamakura coast, so cold weather clothing is still needed. Also, most of the flower viewing in Kamakura involves walking from the station, so choose shoes that are as comfortable as possible.
Cherry blossom viewing etiquette
If you want to find a place to sit down, you can do so in the morning of the day or the evening before. You can use blue mats to make sure it is a good spot, but be careful not to take up too much space. There is also a chance that the mats will be taken off if there is no one on them, so it is important to have at least one person on this side to keep an eye on them.
Dispose of food and drink waste in the rubbish bins that are set up for flower viewing, and note that each location has a different category of waste, so it is important to dispose of it in the designated bins.
If there are no rubbish bins at the flower spot, you must take the rubbish back. It is recommended to check if there is a rubbish bin beforehand, and if not, you can bring your own large rubbish bag.
I think every tourist would like to take the most beautiful photos during the cherry blossom viewing season, but it is important to note that although the cherry blossoms are beautiful, you should not touch the trunks and branches of the cherry blossom trees.
Cherry blossom trees are very delicate plants, and if a branch is broken, it may cause the tree to wither or be injured. Therefore, you should only enjoy the blossoms from a certain distance.
There are cherry blossom viewing spots all over the streets of Kamakura province, so you can feel the excitement and warmth associated with spring. If you plan a trip to Japan in this time, make sure to add Kamakura to your list.