Model Walking Route: Kita-Kamakura

I followed a model walking course and strolled around Kita-Kamakura on one weekday in September. Very quiet and nice area to learn Zen Buddhism and history of Kamakura era.


Approximate Total Time:
5 hours without stopping for lunch

Walking Distance:

I believe around 9 km if you walk from Kita-Kamakura to JR Kamakura stopping at temples along the way.

Model Walking Route:

Before planning a trip to temples, check opening hours. Some close at 4:00 pm and that’s not just when they stop allowing people in, but is when you have to leave the temple.

Kita-Kamakura Station
↓

☆Engaku-ji (60 min) 300 yen
↓Notes: Many sections are off limits. Nice view from Benzaiten


☆Tōkei-ji (30 min) 100 yen
↓Notes: nice wild garden, quiet, mossy rock walls, museum is open on
↓the weekend or by appointment only (300 yen additional admission)
↓Nice little street with shops and a restaurant, Umemiya, between
↓Tōkei-ji and Jōchi-ji


Jōchi-ji (30 min) 200 yen
↓Notes: This temple is not well marked. Ask for the English leaflet
↓for explanations first.Otherwise, the staff will not exchange
↓an English one for a Japanese one.I thought the statue of Hotei was
↓interesting. If pressed for time, OK to skip this .

Myōgetsu-in 300 yen
↓ Notes: Arrived there at 3:55 pm and they said you
↓have to be out by 4:00pm

☆Kenchō-ji (30-60 min) 300 yen
↓ Notes: About 10-15 min walk from Myōgetsu-in.
↓Kyorai-an is located on the way to Kenchō-ji from Kita-Kamakura.
↓This famous restaurant serves beef stew at a traditional Japanese house
↓up on the hill.Too important one to miss.

☆Tsuruoka Hachiman-gū
↓

JR Kamakura Station

Cost:
For this model walking course, total temple admission is around 1,200 yen.

Food:
For lunch, Kita-Kmakura offers excellent choice for shojin ryori, kaiseki, other japanese food such as soba, sushi, ochazuke. Anywhere along the main road between JR Kitakamakura to Kenchō-ji, you will find nice restaurants.


References:
Snapshots of each location can be found at this English site run by the city: http://guide.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/eng/stroll/course/index.htm

Detailed information on the temples listed in this post can be found at:
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~qm9t-kndu/engakuji.htm


Other:

Shop: Nozomi is a very nice antique shop by JR Kita-Kamakura Station.

Toilets: Most places had western style toilets, but one of the rest rooms at Kencho-ji only had Japanese style.

If you do not want to walk 9 km, rental bicycle is available for 2,600 yen for one day (8:30 am – 6:00 pm) at JR Kamakura Station (West side).（Tel：0467-24-2319）


☆=recommended