Hiking the Daibutsu Hiking Trail in Kamakura – Ultimate ‘Off the Beaten Path’ Day Trip from Tokyo
Are you looking for an easy day trip from Tokyo that will nonetheless allow you to explore Japan a little more off-the-beaten-path? If that is the case, hiking the Daibutsu Hiking Trail in Kamakura is the perfect day trip for you!
The city of Kamakura itself is certainly no insider tip anymore. Famous for its Great Buddha Statue, Kamakura is frequented by numerous tourists every day. And rightly so. Kamakura’s Buddha statue is after all the second largest bronze Buddha in Japan – after the Great Buddha of Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara Deer Park!
In this post we want to share with you how you can spend one day exploring Kamakura unseen by most visitors! Find out where to start the hike, get the detailed route of the trail on a map and discover what highlights await along the way when hiking the Daibutsu Hiking Trail in Kamakura!
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Daibutsu Hiking Trail in Kamakura – Everything you need to know
Kamakura is a city located in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, about a 1-hour train ride from Tokyo Station. This coastal town is apart from its opening to the sea for the most part surrounded by beautiful hills and woods.
As already mentioned, most people probably know Kamakura for its impressive ‘Great Buddha’ or Daibutsu statue. But you can actually do so much more here and hiking the Daibutsu Hiking Trail is the perfect way to get a glimpse into what life in Japan looks like away from the tourist hot-spots.
The Daibutsu Hiking Trail is located in the Western Hills of Kamakura and will take you from Kita-Kamakura Station all the way to the Great Buddha Statue passing smaller shrines, local neighborhoods and stunning forests.
What you should know about the Daibutsu Hiking Trail
Before getting into the hiking trail itself, let’s start with a few stats surrounding the trail.
How long is the Daibutsu Hiking Trail?
The walk from Kita-Kamakura station all the way to the Great Buddha Statue is a little over 3 kilometers. There are a few optional detours you can take from the trail while hiking. But, all things considered the hike is probably not going to be longer than 4 kilometers.
How much time do you need to complete the Daibutsu Hiking Trail?
Hiking the Daibutsu Hiking Trail will probably take somewhere between 60 to 90 minutes. Since the trail winds its way through the Western Hills of Kamakura there are a few sections where you might have to slow down a bit. Also the duration will depend on how much time you spend at each sight along the way.
Is the Daibutsu Hiking Trail hard?
There are quite a lot of stairs and most of the paths inside the forest are not paved with roots sticking out everywhere. So we do recommend that you are at least quite foot-sure. That being said, we hiked mostly alongside elderly Japanese people, so I guess most of you should be fine.
In other words: If you are someone that hikes a lot, then the Daibutsu Hiking Trail is probably going to be quite easy. If you are not that much of a hiker then we would consider it of medium difficulty.
Is the Daibutsu Hiking Trail worth hiking? Who would we recommend it to?
If you start the trail expecting the most stunning sights and panoramic views, then you will probably be a little disappointed. So, if you are looking for the latter, maybe rather search for hiking trails in the Japanese Alps. Or consider hiking Mt. Fuji if you are up for a challenge!
The Daibutsu Hiking Trail is moreover what we would consider ‘feel-good’ hiking: The hike is not too hard, you are out in nature and get to explore small shrines and quiet residential areas in Japan that don’t get seen by that many tourists. If this resonates with you, then you should definitely consider doing this hike!
How to get to Kamakura from Tokyo
If you are traveling from Tokyo Station the JR Yokosuka Line is your best option as it travels directly from Tokyo Station to Kamakura Station for around ¥950. The starting point of the Daibutsu Hiking Trail is reached best from Kita-Kamakura Station (1 stop before Kamakura Station, Tokyo Station to Kita-Kamakura: ¥830).
For the same price (¥950) you also get a direct connection from Shinjuku to Kamakura on the JR Shonan Shinjuku Line. Here you just have to be a little more careful because only the trains bound for Zushi will get you to Kamakura. If you have a JR Pass like we did, both trains are included in your pass.
The Daibutsu Hiking Trail – Detailed Route Overview
Now, let’s look at the detailed route of the Daibutsu Hiking Trail. Since it is a less well-known hike it can be quite daunting to find an exact outline of the trail which we want to change with this post.
🗺️ Outline of the Daibutsu Hiking Trail on a Map
To make it easier for you to find the trail, we created the map down below which contains the exact route you can take to reach the Great Buddha Statue from Kita-Kamakura Station via the Daibutsu Hiking Trail.
Save the map on Pinterest for later use via the button on the top left corner.
⛩️ Highlights of the Daibutsu Hiking Trail
Once you reach Kita-Kamakura, leave the station and walk alongside the main street towards the start of the hiking trail. Kita-Kamakura itself is a quiet Japanese town, which can be pretty refreshing after spending some time in the bustling mega-city of Tokyo.
The starting point of the Daibutsu Hiking Trail is located in a side street in Kita-Kamakura. Since the same street is also home to the Jōchi-ji Temple (Nr. 1 on the map), the street is pretty straight forward to find using Google Maps.
Visit Jōchi-ji Temple
While you are here, visit Jōchi-ji Temple. The latter was built in the 13th century and is located in a beautiful and serene location. Entrance fee: ¥200.
Then it is time to start the hike. Continue down the side-street of Jōchi-ji Temple until you reach the starting point of the Daibutsu Hiking Trail (Nr. 2 on the map). From here the trail will lead you through the western hills and forests of Kamakura. The forest is truly beautiful and the views from the hills just as breathtaking!
Marvel at Kuzuharaoka Shrine
After following the trail through the forest for a while, you will reach a clearing which is home to a shrine: Kuzuharaoka Shrine (Nr. 4 on the map). The shrine is dedicated to the theme of love, which is why right next to its entrance you will find two stones joint by ropes. In Japan this typically symbolizes marriage between a man and a woman. Entrance: free of charge.
We visited Kuzuharaoka shrine in April during Sakura season, which must have been the reason why there were some food stalls as well as quite a few local people visiting!
Stroll around Genjiyama Park
Down the road from Kuzuharaoka Shrine you will find the entrance to Genjiyama Park (Nr. 5 on the map). Inside the park you can find a statue of Minamoto Yoritomo, a former shogun. Except for the statue the park is for the most part an average public park with numerous locals going about their day.
Visit Zeniarai Benten Shrine
Not far away from Genjiyama Park is Zeniarai Benten Shrine (Nr. 6 on the map). You will have to take a very small detour but it is going to be worth it! The entrance of the shrine leads through a tunnel which is quite an interesting feature.
Entrance to the shrine is free of charge. For ¥200 you can lend the tools to wash your money, which is actually what the shrine is known for. Apparently, money washed in the shrine’s spring will double.
Soak in the great views on the last stretch of the hike
From here make your way back to the trail and start the last stretch of the hike. This last leg was the most difficult but also the most rewarding in terms of views. You’ll get quite an awesome panoramic view all the way down towards the sea at one point!
Optional: Daibutsu Kiridoshi Pass
Right before the end of the Daibutsu Hiking Trail (Nr. 8 on the map) you’ll get the option to extend your hike by visiting the Daibutsu Kiridoshi Pass (Nr. 9 on the map). The latter is an artificial pass that was dug into the rock as early as the 13th century to function as a land traffic route to connect Kamakura to other cities. The Daibutsu Kiridoshi Pass is actually only one of several such Kiridoshi Passes in the area.
When leaving the hiking trail, follow the road towards Kamakura and you will quickly find yourself back in the more busy part of Kamakura right in front of the entrance to the Great Buddha!
Visit the Great Buddha
No visit to Kamakura would be complete without seeing the Great Buddha Statue. And so it is kind of fitting that the Daibutsu Hiking Trail ends only a few hundred meters away from the Great Buddha!
Interestingly, the Daibutsu statue originally stood inside a hall, similar to the one in Nara. But, after being destroyed a number of times by storms, earthquakes and eventually being washed away by a tsunami, the hall ended up never being rebuilt.
Entrance fee: ¥300
How to spend a day in Kamakura – Perfect Kamakura Day Trip Itinerary
While it is an absolute treat to explore a part of Kamakura that is a little more off-the-beaten-path, Kamakura does have a few popular sights that are worth adding to your itinerary as well.
📌 Suggested Kamakura Itinerary Outline:
- Take the train from Tokyo to Kita-Kamakura Station.
- Hike the Daibutsu Hiking Trail.
- Visit the Great Buddha Statue.
- Grab lunch in one of the nearby restaurants.
Our recommendations (in no particular order):
🍛 Woof Curry. A restaurant specialized in curry. Address: 2 Chome-10-39 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016, Japan
🥦 Magokoro. A vegetarian restaurant. Address: 2 Chome-8-11 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016, Japan
🥘 Sometaro. A restaurant specialized in Okonomiyaki. Address: Japan, 〒248-0016 Kanagawa, Kamakura, Hase, 3 Chome−12−11 ツタヤビル 2階
🍱 Kaedena. A variety of Japanese dishes. There is very likely going to be a queue. Address: 3 Chome-8-13 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016, Japan
- Spend the afternoon exploring a few other sights in Kamakura.
🏖️ Kamakura Beach. Take a walk on Kamakura's beach. The latter is quite popular among surfers. In off-season it can seem a little gloomy though.
🏮 Hase-dera Temple. A really stunning Buddhist Temple. This one is kind of a MUST in our opinion. Entrance fee: ¥400.
⛩️ Goryo Shrine. A lovely Shinto shrine. There is a train passing by right next to the shrine which makes for quite an interesting setting. No entrance fee.
- Take the Enoden Line from Hase Station towards Kamakura Station. One-way: ¥200.
- Stroll around Komachi-dori Shopping Street for some souvenir shopping.
- Take the train from Kamakura Station back to Tokyo.
Final thoughts on hiking the Daibutsu Hiking Trail in Kamakura
Kamakura is quite a popular day trip from Tokyo. Which is why we think that hiking the Daibutsu Hiking Trail can be quite a refreshing experience for those of you that would like to explore Kamakura, but also prefer to spend some time in nature and get a little breather from the crowds from time to time.
Personally, we really enjoyed the Daibutsu Hiking Trail and would recommend it to anyone who wants to get an insight into the quieter areas of Japan.
While hiking the Daibutsu Hiking Trail, we actually only met locals and a few Japanese tourists. This was back in 2017 though so it might have changed a little overtime. We would love to hear your experience in the comments if you visited more recently!
