Getting There
Take the JR Yokosuka Line bound for Zushi, Kurihama, or Yokosuka; it departs every 10 to 15 minutes from the Yokohama, Shinagawa, Shimbashi, and Tokyo JR stations. The trip takes almost 1 hour from Tokyo Station and costs ¥890 ($7.40/£3.75) one-way to Kamakura Station. From Shinjuku, take the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line 1 hour to Kamakura for the same price.
Visitor Information
In Kamakura, there's a tourist information window (tel. 0467/22-3350; www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp; daily 9am-5:30pm, to 5pm in winter) immediately to the right outside Kamakura Station's east exit in the direction of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. It sells a color brochure with a map of Kamakura for ¥200 ($1.65/85p); there's also a free map (in both English and Japanese), but it's not always in stock. Ask here for directions on how to get to the village's most important sights and restaurants.
Orientation & Getting Around
Kamakura's major sights are clustered in two areas: Kamakura Station, the town's downtown with the tourist office, souvenir shops spread along Komachi Dori and Wakamiya Oji, restaurants, and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine; and Hase, with the Great Buddha and Hase Kannon Temple. You can travel between Kamakura Station and Hase Station via the Enoden Line, a wonderful small train, or you can walk the distance in about 20 minutes. Destinations are also easily reached by buses departing from Kamakura Station.
