KAMAKURA WITH KIDS

Kamakura is one of the most popular day-trips from Tokyo. For that reason it can get extremely busy on weekends.

Honestly, it has taken us a few attempts at getting it right with small children. It is a beautiful, old town which means it isn’t exactly ridden with slides and playgrounds between temples. Here are some ideas to make sure you can sightsee , take in this gorgeously quaint town but still keep the kiddies interested:

A SPLASH AT THE BEACH AT KAMAKURA
The beach is not beautiful (especially if I’m going by Aussie standards) but it’s a lovely, open space with fresh air…and …meggghhhh…kids don’t care as long as they can splash, right?!
A walk along the beach will pretty much set you in the direction of the temple with the Giant Buddha if you’re heading from the JR station too. So it could be a splashy waddle along the way.

After the beach at Kamakura, just 4 minutes walk from Kamakura Station is Italian-run gelateria called Gelateria Il Brigante. Open daily midday -4pm (or until stock is sold out.)

KOTOKU-IN (THE GREAT BUDDHA OF KAMAKURA)
This is the most famous sightseeing spot in Kamakura.

My kids enjoy the “cleansing the body and mind” at the water place on the way into the temple.

The actual buddha wasn’t of great interest to them (us grown-ups were in awe) but they did enjoy being able to climb up inside the statue.

I know this might be a weird recommendation, but at the gift shop here – they sell wooden rice paddles. They are only a few hundred yen but they make for fabulous souvenirs.

There was a small stone garden at the back they had a little run around.

Then, across the road is an ice-cream shop that sells green tea ice-cream (and a couple of more standard flavours if you’re not feeling so adventurous.)

If you’ve finished at the Great Buddha and need a meal, we like this place (6 mins walk away.) It’s an okonomiyaki ( a kind of Japanese savoury omelette) , monjyayaki and yakisoba restaurant. These are all considered street food or just really cheap, casual family comfort food in Japan.

My kids love seeing the food cooked right in front of them and love the taste. Even for the fussiest eaters yakisoba is noodles, pork & veg on the grill. Because it’s cooked in front of you – it’s quite easy to say “no” to certain ingredients (such a meat etc. ) without the language barrier getting in the way. That being said: the restaurant is more than used to non-Japanese speaking tourists so you won’t have a problem anyway.

This is a most definitely not a fancy restaurant but it really is an authentic country-town style lunch spot. Such a fun experience for everyone.

There is no elevator so you’ll need to carry your stroller upstairs.
Please note that this is a non-smoking restaurant only until 5pm.
Okonomiyaki costs around 900 yen. You can pay an additional 150 yen for extra toppings like cheese, mochi (pounded rice cake), kimuchi etc.

Read here for how to order a vegetarian version of okonomiyaki

SOMETARO KAMAKURA
鎌倉長谷3-12-11
3-12-11 HASE, KAMAKURA
OPEN 11:30AM-9PM
CLOSED WEDNESDAYS

If you decide to head back towards the station, I recommend taking the back streets and seeing what you can find. The streets are quaint and the houses are proper, actual houses with gardens and traditional roofs and gates. It’s a step back in time.
And in the rainy season, it’s particularly spectacular as Kamakura is completely decorated with gorgeous blue and purple hydrangeas.

Another way to take in the Kamakura hidden alleyways on the move is to make use of a jinrikisha ( a Japanese rickshaw.) This is a fantastic option if the weather turns on you as the rinrikisha have a roof and, if cold, you are given a cozy big blanket and pocket sized hot packs too.

A jinrikisha company called Ebisuya start their tours from the Family Mart convenience store parking lot near Kamakura Station. Prices vary depending on number of passengers and how much time you would like to tour around for. To give you a basic idea, expect to pay around 13,000 yen for 3 passengers for a 30 minute round trip.

Not far from the Family Mart where the rickshaws depart is the most quaint jam & biscuit store called Romi-Unie. Their lemon cookies are to die for !

And their gift boxes make for the cutest dollhouse ( just cut a little door into the box) I then put the box away for playing with on a plane – like my other suggestions here.

ROMI-UNIE CONFITURE
鎌倉市小町2-15-11
2-15-11 KOMACHI, KAMAKURA
OPEN EVERYDAY 10AM-6PM (EXCEPT FOR DURING THE NEW YEAR PERIOD)

It sounds really unusual but I recommend checking out the Starbucks Onarimachi in Kamakura. The building used to be the home of cartoonist and manga artist Ryuichi Yokoyama – his artwork still hangs on the walls. The building is made of dark wood, glass and has beautiful high ceilings. There is even a pool (decorative purposes only, unfortunately) on the terrace. There is also a coffee bar. This starbucks is listed as one of Japan’s 10 monst beautifully designed Starbucks stores.
It is 4 minutes walk from Kamakura Station.

STARBUCKS KAMAKURA ONARIMACHI
鎌倉市御成町15-11
15-11 ONARIMACHI, KAMAKURA
OPEN 8AM-9PM

If you are looking for a restaurant with gluten free options in Kamakura – I recommend Vegetarian Cafe Magokoro just 5 mins walk from Hase Station. There are also vegan options here.
The debate is still on-going as to whether or not their fries are gluten-free but other gluten free menu options include curry, pasta and salads.
No kids’ menu here. Most meals are 1000-2000 yen. It’s the most picturesque little restaurant for nature lovers.
This cafe also serves wine, sake and cocktails.
MAGOKORO
鎌倉市長谷2-8-11 2Ｆ
2F, 2-8-11 HASE, KAMAKURA
OPEN 11AM-4PM FOR FOOD (OPEN AS A BAR 4PM-11PM)
CLOSED MONDAYS

Please see my article here on how to go about making a reservation for a restaurant in Japan when the website doesn’t have an English website option.

If you’re looking for another lunch or dinner option in the Station area, next door to Starbucks is a beautiful hidden garden restaurant called Garden House.
The menu is available n English and is stunning at lunch and in the evening. It’s very popular for wedding receptions because it’s such a picturesque little spot.
Incase the Mummies & Daddies are interested, this restaurant stocks the local Kamakura Craft Beer.
We loved the pizza and my kids liked the buttermilk fried chicken (we ordered way too much food.)
It is now possible to make a reservation via the Garden House website.

GARDEN HOUSE
鎌倉市御成町15-46
15-46 ONARIMACHI, KAMAKURA
OPEN EVERYDAY 9AM-9PM

Another option if you want somewhere the kiddies can run and make a bit more noise and mess I recommend the new AWKitchen Kamakura branch. The terrace is huge! My little boy also loved the fact that it was positioned right next to the Enoshima Electric Train Line so we saw trains go by , right in front of us, constantly. Their lunch sets are reasonable and they use the outdoor area like a lush beer garden. So much space for a Japanese restaurant.

After lunch we grabbed a kakigori (a Japanese shaved ice dessert that is flavoured with fruit cordial and sometimes sweetened condensed milk).
This red kanji character in the picture below is the symbol shops display when they are selling kakigori. Keep an eye out for it in the warmer months.

AW KITCHEN GARDEN KAMAKURA
鎌倉市由比ガ浜2-4-43
2-4-43 YUIGAHAMA, KAMAKURA
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:30AM-SUNSET
OPEN WEEKENDS 11AM-10PM

The Sasuke Inari Shrine is easily accessible for little legs (just don’t try and access the shrine from the top of the hill like I did! It was a mini , steep hike down! The main entrance is much more respectable.
This shrine is also known as the White Fox Shrine.
It’s a very small shrine with stairs leading up through the Tori Gates. It’s also an easy option from Kotoku-in and the station (about 15 mins walk from both.)
We made the shrine more fun for the kids to ask them to help us “find” all of the foxes.

SASUKE INARI SHRINE
鎌倉市佐輔2-22-10
2-22-10 SASUKE, KAMAKURA

more….information on Hasedera, Engakuji & Myoho-ji coming soon….

If you wanted to visit the beach, Enoshima Beach is not too far away. (about 15 minutes in the car or 21 minutes on the Enoshima Electric Railway from Kamakura to Koshigoe Station.)
The beach isn’t the most gorgeous you’ll ever see but on a clear day you can see Fuji in the distance and it is shallow out for a long way so is lovely for kids to have a splash.
If you are able to, take a small pop up tent for shade.
Our favourite spot to splash is pretty much directly in front of Coco’s Diner at the east side of Enoshima Beach.

This is also the same beach where you can do SUP Yoga.
How cool is it that Stand Up Paddleboarding and Yoga is an option in Tokyo?!

And don’t worry if you’ve never done it before ( or you’re a VERY uncoordinated person like I am!) because Kelly is the most patient and understanding instructor. I had very low expectations and was so amazed when I was able to stand and actually hold a few moves …. before falling back in again (and not like that cute kind of fall back stuff.. I mean … half falling forward … then half falling backwards. .. and then … belly flopping.)
If you are a novice, like me, the Intro to Sup class is probably best for you.

This is me!! I didn’t even expect to be able to kneel!

If you’re not a confident swimmer – don’t be too worried as there are also life vests at your disposal. It was really windy when I went and Kelly attached our boards together. It was great.

Kelly is the only foreigner teaching SUP in Japan and is also Japan’s first internationally certified SUP and SUP Yoga Instructor.

Kids are also able to participate in SUP classes – they will need to be reasonably capable swimmers though, of course.

For more Shine on SUP stand up paddleboarding details, see my post here.

** Another random idea, why not get kids all dressed up in Kimono while you’re in Kamakura?
Go to their store, which is just 2 minutes walk from the station ( detailed instructions here.) called Kyoto Kimono Rental Wargo.
Kids can be dressed in kimono or yukata (summer kimono) . The kid’s price is 2900 yen. You can make a reservation on the Kyoto Kimono Rental Wargo English website here. The kids package is only available for children between 3 and 10 years old.

If you are looking for vegan food in Kamakura, I recommend taking the train to Ofuna Station (10 mins from Kamakura Station) and eating at Cocoichibanya Curry House OR trying LunaBurger ( a vegan burger shop) which is walking distance from Hasedera Shrine.