Kamakura Transportation

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Kamakura and Sankeien in Yokohama is often toured together if you are in an organized group tour. But when you travel alone you will have to use train and bus to get there. From JR Kamakura station first go toward Yokohama and change trains at OFUNA. From Ofuna take Negishi line train which usually depart from #9 or #10 platform. Then get off at Negishi station. The bus for Sankeien starts from #1 gate. When you get on the bus, pay 210 yen bus fare in advance. Get off the bus at HONMOKU bus stop. From there cross the street and get in the road with cherry avenue. After walking about ten minutes you will see the gate of the garden. It will take about one hour from Kamakura to Sankeien including the time for walk.

Visiting Kamakura from Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka can be a bit complicated because you may have to change trains a number of times.
There are mainly three ways to get to Kamakura from the western part of Japan.

A: BY WAY OF YOKOHAMA
It is actually the most popular ways to get to Kamakura from Osaka, Kyoto and western part of Japan.
SHINKANSEN(Bullet Train) ...Get off at Shinyokohama station. Change trains to Yokohama line to get to Yokohama station. From Yokohama station take TOKAIDO MAIN LINE and change trains at OFUNA. From OFUNA take Yokosuka line to Kamakura.
Level of recommendation: **** B+
Although it is often recommended by the most of the guidebooks, this way may take extra train fee and particularly not practical if you come from Shizuoka or Mt. Fuji areas.
Recommended if you want to visit Yokohama first before going to Kamakura. Not a bad plan.

B: BY WAY OF OFUNA
I recommend this route because it costs no extra train fee and is practical particularly when you come from HAKONE, IZU and MT. FUJI Areas.
First change trains at ODAWARA and take JR local train. Get off at OFUNA and take YOKOSUKA line to Kamakura.
Level of recommendation ***** A
Although it may take extra time than Route A because HIKARI or NOZOMI does not stop at Odawara. But it is the most reasonable way to get there. Particularly recommended if you want to stop by at OFUNA for the well-known Kannon statue.

C: BY WAY OF FUJISAWA
The good part of this route is that you can enjoy train ride of ENODEN line, which is the part of Kamakura appeal.
From Odawara change to JR local train and change trains to ENODEN at Fujisawa. From Fujisawa it is about thirty minutes to Kamakura.
Level of recommendation *** C+
Recommended if you would like to visit some popular attractions such as Yugyoji and Enoshima Island in Fujisawa.

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You can take local JR trains around Yokohama, and between Yokohama and surrounding wards.
If you want to take Tokaido Shinkansen, you have to go to Shin-Yokohama station.
You can take Yokohama Line from Yokohama station to Shin-Yokohama station.
JR Pass, JR East Pass and SUICA card are valid on these trains.

Kamakura is a pretty small town. There are buses, trains and taxis to shuttle you about, but it really doesn't make much sense to do it that way. Your best bet is renting a bike. You will find a bike rental shop next to Kamakura station. As soon as you exit, make a right and walk about 50 meters. Look for the long row of parked bikes.

The best deal is rent the bike for the whole day.

Also, better get there early, as they do run out.

From Tokyo, you may buy "Enoshima Kamakura Free Pass" at Tokyo Station for 1,430 Yen. For more info about the pass, go to this link.. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_003.html

Then, board a local train at Tokyo Station on "Yokosuka Line" and it will take approximately 55 mins to Kamakura. Then, take another local train, "Eno-Den" line, to Hase. Proceed to Hasedera Temple to pay the statue of Kannon a visit. Then, also visit the Daibutsu (Great Buddha Temple) at Kotokuin Temple.

Take the local train, "Eno-den" line, back to Kamakura. Walk to Komachi Shopping Street to have the best curry rice in town for lunch. The restaurant is on Komachi Str. on your right. Make sure you have "Tonkatsu Kare Risu" which means curry rice with deep fried pork (verrrry yummy!!). You may see how the restaurant looks like on my Japan Trip's pictures.

After you finished your lunch, walk through the Komachi Street to visit "Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine", the symbol of the first Shogun Minamoto, the arched bridge, the Genji and Heike ponds, etc. After that you may walk back to Kamakura Station via Komachi Shopping Street to have some japanese style snacks & refreshments and also buy some souvenirs from some art and craft shops.

Take the local train on "Yokosuka Line" for Tokyo Station.

From Kamakura station down to Hase (the station to get off at for the Giant Buddha) and further down the line to Enoshima and Fujisawa, is the Enoden line.

Quite rustic, but gets you to where you want to go.

Kamakura is also the terminal for the Enoshima Electric Railway, locally known as "Eno-den". This traditional narrow gauge railway runs to Fujisawa, to the west, part of the route takes it parallel to the seashore.

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The freepass includes round trip transport between Shinjuku/Fujisawa by Odakyu train, and unlimited travel between Fujisawa and Kamakura on Enoden train for one day. Adult costs JPY1,430 and child costs JPY720 per person. Leave earlier as it's a lot to see in Kamakura City.