Top 3 Places to Visit on the Hakone Kamakura Pass
- Written by Mihoko Kurosawa
If you're looking for a nearby getaway from the bustling cityscape of Tokyo, one great option is to explore the nearby towns of Hakone and Kamakura. Here, you can enjoy beautiful beaches, relaxing hot springs, and amazing views of Mount Fuji. Furthermore, sightseeing between these two towns couldn't be easier with the Hakone Kamakura Pass, which gives you three days of unlimited travel on the Odakyu Railway Lines and other forms of regional transport, as well as discounts at local restaurants, shops, museums, hot springs and much, much more! All of this can be bought at a bargain price of ¥6,500 (¥2250 for children). Here's a list of our top 3 places to visit when using the Hakone Kamakura Pass.
1. Hot Springs and the Hakone Shrine
The hot springs of Hakone are famous in Japan due to the stunning scenery of nearby Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji. Hot springs or onsen are natural baths heated by underground volcanic activity, with the water of different hot springs thought to have their own unique health properties. Hakone has a wide variety of hot springs, from outdoor, open-air bathhouses with amazing views of Mount Fuji, to themed baths filled with coffee and even wine! In addition to your relaxing onsen experience, the Hakone Shrine (Hakone Jinja) on the shore of Lake Ashi is must see destination. Its famous red 'floating' Torii gate on the water is an iconic image of Japan's breathtaking scenery and Shinto culture. Included in the Hakone Kamakura pass is the use of the Hakone Ropeway Service - a 30-minute aerial journey that gives you spectacular views of the rising volcanic fumes of Owakudani, as well as Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji.
- Themed onsens (Yunessun): https://www.yunessun.com/en/
- Hakone Ropeway Service: https://www.hakoneropeway.co.jp/foreign/en/
- Owakudani: https://trip.pref.kanagawa.jp/destination/owakudani/67
- Hakone Shrine: https://trip.pref.kanagawa.jp/destination/hakone-jinja-shrine/19
2. The Great Buddha of Kamakura and Komachi Street
A National Treasure of Japan, the Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kamakura Daibutsu) is a gigantic 13.35m tall outdoor monument. Seated in a meditating position, you can actually enter inside this hollow statue and admire the unique casting style used to create the Buddha built in 1252 AD, which was during the Kamakura Shogunate period, when Kamakura was the political centre of Japan. After visiting the Great Buddha, make sure to explore Komachi Street - the major shopping street in Kamakura, where you'll find a wide array of traditional foods and souvenirs. Whether it be the cute dove shaped Hato Sabure or the harmonious flavours of the famous Raisin Wich, there's something for everybody. During the warmer months, make sure to head to one of Kamakura's many beaches where you can surf, sunbathe or admire the views with an ice cream in hand!
- Great Buddha: http://www.kotoku-in.jp/en/
- Komachi Street: https://trip.pref.kanagawa.jp/destination/komachi-street/374
3. Enoshima Island
Using your Hakone Kamakura Pass, you can easily go from Kamakura to Enoshima Island. Make sure to check out the Enoshima Sea Candle - a glass walled lighthouse which gives an amazing 360-degree view of the area, including Mount Fuji on a clear day. At night you'll often see the Sea Candle light up, particularly from the end of November to mid-February, where it becomes a focal point of the Shonan no Hoseki night illumination festival. Also popular in Enoshima are the Iwaya Caves, which have been formed over thousands of years of water erosion. Previously a religious pilgrimage for monks and samurai, the caves are now a popular tourist destination due to their ancient and mysterious atmosphere.
- Shonan no Hoseki: https://trip.pref.kanagawa.jp/destination/jewery-of-shonan/613
- Iwaya Caves: http://www.fujisawa-kanko.jp.e.mz.hp.transer.com/spot/enoshimaiwaya.html
For more information about the Hakone Kamakura pass, visit the link below:
https://www.odakyu.jp/english/passes/hakone_kamakura/.
