A Peaceful Escape to Kamakura: Buddha, Gardens and Beaches

Table of Contents 

• The History and Significance of Kamakura
• How to Get to and Around Kamakura
• Suggested Kamakura Itineraries
• The Great Buddha: Kamakura’s Bronze Soul
• Temple Hopping Through History
• The Daibutsu Hiking Trail
• Kamakura’s Beach Town Atmosphere
• The Enoden Line: Kamakura’s Scenic Railway
• Enoshima Island: A Coastal Escape
• Eating Well in Kamakura
• Café Culture in Kamakura
• Practical Weekend Planning
• Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaways 

What you should know about Kamakura in a nutshell: 

• Kamakura is an easy escape from Tokyo, combining temple culture, coastal scenery, and a more relaxed pace less than an hour from the capital. 

• As the seat of Japan’s first shogunate government, Kamakura played a major role in shaping Japanese history and still feels deeply connected to its medieval past. 

• The Great Buddha, historic temples, and Zen gardens are among the city’s biggest highlights, with each area offering a different atmosphere. 

• Kamakura is especially rewarding for travellers who enjoy mixing culture and nature, from bamboo groves and hydrangeas to forest trails and ocean views. 

• The Daibutsu Hiking Trail offers a scenic way to connect northern temples with the Great Buddha while escaping the busier streets below. 

• Beyond its spiritual side, Kamakura also has a laid-back coastal charm, with beaches, surf culture, and sunset cafés adding to its appeal. 

• With the Enoden railway, local food, and nearby Enoshima, Kamakura is ideal for either a well-planned day trip or a slow weekend getaway. 

The History and Significance of Kamakura

Less than an hour south of Tokyo’s relentless energy, Kamakura (Kamakura-shi, the official city designation) offers something the capital cannot: breathing room. Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, it is a coastal city pressed between forested hills and the Pacific Ocean. 

Kamakura served as Japan’s de facto capital during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), established by Minamoto no Yoritomo, acting as the seat of Japan's first military government and shaping the course of Japan's history. With a population of 200,000 people, it was Japan’s largest city in that period, and it surpassed Kyoto in political and cultural autonomy, although the Emperor continued to rule from Kyoto. 

Kamakura’s hills and bays form a natural fortress, which provided strategic defensive advantages that contributed to its historical significance. Even today, remnants of that medieval glory remain scattered throughout its valleys and cliffsides: 

• Kamakura Gozan - Kamakura's Five Great Temples which include Engaku-ji, Kenchō-ji, Jōchi-ji, Tōkeiji, and Hase-dera. 

• Tsurugaoka Hachimangu - Founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura, dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war. 

• Seven Entrances of Kamakura - Man-made mountain passes that served as the only land access to the city, functioning as natural defensive checkpoints. 

After the fall of the shogunate in 1333, Kamakura's decline began leading to a slow recovery during the Edo period as a tourist destination, but even to this day, Kamakura is often called Little Kyoto due to its rich cultural heritage. Today, many hiking trails and easy transportation connect the temples, beaches, local eateries and Zen gardens of the city, making it perfect for a daytrip, or a laid-back weekend getaway from Tokyo. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss. 

How to Get to and Around Kamakura

To get to Kamakura from Tokyo, the easiest way is by taking the train. The JR Yokosuka Line, directly from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station, or the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku or Shibuya Station both takes about 55 minutes to 1 hour and costs 950 yen one-way.

In Kamakura, getting around is rather simple: the main temples and shrines of the city are within 1-3 kilometres from the central station, which is connected to the surrounding areas by local bus lines, the JR Lines, and the Enoden Line (Enoshima Electric Railway). Renting a bicycle near Kamakura, or Kita-Kamakura Station for a day can make an easy way to get around the city on days with nice weather.

Transportation Passes in Kamakura 

The Enoshima Electric Railway connects Kamakura to Enoshima and is a popular way to explore the area. Kamakura offers a 1-Day pass on the Enoden Line, called the Kamakura Free Environment Pass. At 900 yen, this lets you explore Kamakura’s main attractions along the Enoden Line, allowing for unlimited rides and side trips to explore the smaller neighbourhoods of the town as well. 

If you also plan to explore Enoshima Island with Kamakura, the 1-Day Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass grants you unlimited rides on the Enoden Line between Kamakura and Enoshima, and the Shonan Monorail between Fujisawa and Enoshima. It also has an optional add-on to access Fujisawa from Shinjuku Station on the Odakyu Line. 

Suggested Itineraries for Exploring Kamakura

Kamakura and its central area can be explored easily in a single day if you plan precisely – see our blog about the Top 5 Day Trips from Tokyo for the brief itinerary. However, if you wish to go deeper, we recommend spending an overnight and making it two days. Below are two simple itineraries: one for Central Kamakura, and the other one for Northern and Western Kamakura. 

Central Kamakura 1-Day Itinerary 

To explore Kamakura’s central attractions, upon arrival to Kamakura Station, visit the nearby Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (10 minutes' walk), then Kamakura-gu Shrine. After that, take the bus to Hokoku-ji Temple – a temple with an impressive bamboo grove with matcha option. You can also visit the Ichijo Ekan Sanso garden next door. Return by bus to Kamakura Station, then walk 20 minutes, or take the Enoden Line (until Hase Station) to Hase-dera Temple for sea views and hydrangeas (in June-July). Have lunch at one of the many local restaurants and cafes in the Hase area. Then, walk to Kotoku-in Temple to see the Kamakura Great Buddha. At the end of the day, return to Central Kamakura by either walking by the beach, or by taking the Enoden. Finish your day by browsing for souvenirs on Komachi Street, or watching the sunset from the beach. 

Northern Kamakura 1-Day Itinerary 

As an alternative – or second-day option –, we recommend exploring more of Northern Kamakura, starting from Kita-Kamakura Station (one stop before the final Kamakura Station on the JR Lines). From Kita-Kamakura, walk to Engaku-ji Temple with Zen gardens. Then, visit the Meigetsu-in Temple famous for its hydrangeas, and have lunch on the street leading up to the temple. After that, embark on a short hike on the Daibutsu Hiking Trail (about 3 kilometres long, beginner friendly), starting from Jochi-ji Temple, which leads up to Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine – a shrine with an impressive cave, to improve financial luck. Finish the hiking trail at Kamakura’s Great Buddha and take the Enoden Line from Hase Station to explore the coast and charming cafes of Inamuragasaki, with a view of Mt. Fuji over Enoshima Island on clear days. 

The Great Buddha: Kamakura’s Bronze Soul

Any exploration of Kamakura inevitably involves a visit to Kotoku-in Temple, home to the Daibutsu, the Great Buddha of Kamakura. This iconic bronze statue, known as the Kamakura Daibutsu, was cast in 1252 and sits in serene meditation, rising 13.35 meters high and weighing approximately 121 tons. Unlike its larger cousin in Nara, which sits protected inside a massive wooden hall, Kamakura’s Buddha meditates in the open air, exposed to sun and rain, wind and salt. 

This exposure wasn’t the original plan. The statue once resided within a grand temple hall, but a tsunami in 1498 swept the building away, leaving the Buddha sitting calmly amid the wreckage. Rather than rebuild around it, the decision was made to leave the Buddha as the wave had left it. The result is one of Japan’s most powerful spiritual images: the Kamakura Daibutsu stands as a symbol of the city's heritage, a manifestation of enlightenment sitting peacefully beneath the sky, weathered green by centuries of weather, entirely unmoved by the impermanence swirling around it. 

Visiting early, just after the 8 AM opening, offers something special. Tour groups haven’t yet arrived, and morning light illuminates the Buddha’s face with grace. The surrounding gardens are quiet enough to hear birds in the cryptomeria trees, and there’s space to sit on the benches facing the statue, simply observing. The Buddha’s expression, neither smiling nor stern, but containing what might be described as infinite patience, rewards extended viewing. It’s a face that’s watched this bay for 770 years, through earthquakes and tsunamis, wars and peace, and found all of it equally passing. 

For those curious about the interior, fifty yen buys entry into the statue itself, climbing up through a small opening to see the seams and construction methods from inside.

Temple Hopping Through History

Kamakura boasts 65 Buddhist temples and 19 Shinto shrines, many dating to the city’s medieval heyday. Attempting to see all of them in a weekend would be exhausting and pointless, spiritual tourism by checklist. Instead, a more rewarding approach involves selecting a few temples that offer different aspects of Kamakura’s character, allowing time to actually experience each, rather than simply photographing them. 

Hasedera Temple 

A short walk from Kotoku-in's Great Buddha, Hasedera Temple is renowned for its cultural and historical significance in Kamakura. Cascading down a hillside overlooking the ocean, the main hall houses a massive wooden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, over nine meters tall and gilded in gold.

According to legend, this statue was carved from the same sacred camphor tree that produced Kannon’s twin in Nara Prefecture, and when completed, it was thrown into the sea to find its own sacred location. Fifteen years later, it washed ashore at Kamakura, already miraculously intact. 

Apart from its Kannon statue, Hasedera is also known for its ponds, gardens, most importantly, hydrangeas. From mid-June to July, colourful hydrangeas of 1,500+ varieties bloom, turning the temple grounds into a vibrant sea of blues, purples, pinks, and whites. On rainy days, you can even observe their changing colours. 

Access to Hasedera Temple:  

From Kamakura Station, take the Enoden Line two stops to Hase Station (6 minutes). Walk 5 minutes along the main road following signs uphill to the temple entrance. Alternatively, walk from Kamakura Station 25-30 minutes (1.5 km) southwest to reach Hasedera. 

Hokoku-ji Temple 

Hokoku-ji Temple is the place for the “bamboo temple” experience. The main hall and gardens are lovely, but visitors come for the bamboo grove, thousands of tall bamboo stalks creating a vertical forest of green. Light filters through the dense canopy in shifting patterns, and the wind moving through the grove creates a hollow, musical sound unlike any other natural phenomenon.

A small tea house sits at the grove’s edge, serving matcha and traditional wagashi sweets. Sitting there in dappled shade, surrounded by swaying bamboo, might be the most tranquil thirty minutes available in the greater Tokyo area. 

Access to Hokoku-ji Temple: 

From Kamakura Station's East Exit bus stop, take Keikyu Bus lines 23, 24, or 36 until Jomyoji, then walk 3 minutes uphill to the entrance of Hokoku-ji. 

Engaku-ji Temple 

One of Kamakura’s most important Zen temples, one of the Kamakura Gozan (Five Great Zen Temples of Kamakura from the shogunate period), provides yet another experience. This temple complex, founded in 1282, spreads across multiple buildings and gardens, offering a sense of the scale and sophistication of medieval Japanese Buddhism.

The main gate, Sanmon, dates to 1783 and ranks among Kamakura’s most photographed structures, a massive two-story wooden edifice that frames the temple buildings beyond with precise architectural intention. 

Access to Engaku-ji Temple:  

Engaku-ji Temple is easy to reach, located just a 1-minute walk from Kita-Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line. 

Meigetsu-in Temple 

Finally of Kamakura’s characteristic temples, Meigetsu-in Temple, often called "Ajisai-dera" (Hydrangea Temple) is a serene Rinzai Zen temple in Northern Kamakura, founded around 1160. The temple draws crowds for its 2,500+ blue hydrangeas blooming vibrantly in June and July along its winding garden paths. 

You can observe the change of seasons in a cultural setting here. In the temple hall, unique circular "Moon Window" or “Window of Enlightenment” can be found with seasonal ikebana decorations, framing landscapes as the seasons change. In the garden, from a small bamboo grove and irises, to Japanese maple trees and a dry landscape garden evoking Mount Shumi, there is always a special seasonal moment to catch here. 

Access to Meigetsu-in Temple: 

Meigetsu-in Temple is located in Northern Kamakura, about a 10-minute walk from Kita-Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line. 

The Daibutsu Hiking Trail

One of Kamakura’s best secrets is the Daibutsu Hiking Trail, a relatively easy trail that connects Kita-Kamakura Station to the Great Buddha, passing through forests and several ancient temples along the way. The trail starts in Northern Kamakura, an area known for its prominent temples and cultural heritage. At roughly 3 kilometres, requiring 90 minutes to two hours depending on pace and stops, it’s less a serious hike than an extended forest walk, but it provides a wonderful alternative to road-walking between temple sites. 

The trail begins near Jochi-ji Temple, passes a secluded tea ceremony spot (Houan), and immediately climbs into wooded hills. The path alternates between dirt trails, wooden walkways, and stone steps, occasionally opening to viewpoints over the city and ocean. Compared to Kamakura’s valley floors, packed with tourists and traffic, these hilltop forests feel calm and genuinely remote. The only sounds are birds, wind through leaves, and the occasional rustle of one of the many cats that seem to own these woods. 

Hiking through the forests, there are several hidden gems you will pass. One of them is Kuzuharaoka Shrine, a small forest shrine honouring local deities, providing a shaded rest spot amid towering cedars with subtle stone lanterns and a tranquil atmosphere.

Midway along the trail, there is a small clearing at Azumaya, where seasonal festivals are held, and Genjiyama Park – these offer a small glimpse of Kamakura spread below, temple roofs visible among the trees, and beyond it all, the Pacific stretching to the horizon. It’s a geography lesson in why this location was chosen as a medieval capital, protected by mountains on three sides, open to the sea for trade and communication, defensible yet accessible. 

Then, the path passes Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine, with an entrance tunnel carved in a stone cliff. Known as the "money-washing shrine," visitors rinse coins in the shrine’s sacred springwater for good fortune, in a mystical cave grotto lit by lanterns. And lastly, the path crosses Sasuke Inari Shrine with its photogenic red torii tunnel climbing the ridge. 

The trail emerges at the top of Kamakura’s residential areas and descends through neighbourhoods before reaching Kotoku-in's Great Buddha.

Beach Town Rhythms

After hours in temples and forests, Kamakura’s beaches offer a necessary contrast. The city’s coastline stretches for several kilometres, with distinct beach areas each attracting different crowds. Yuigahama Beach, the largest and most accessible, draws families and general beachgoers. Zaimokuza Beach, just to the east, tends to be slightly quieter. But for the authentic Kamakura beach experience, Shichirigahama Beach, stretching west toward Enoshima, offers the best combination of sand, surf, and atmosphere. 

Shichirigahama Beach 

Shichirigahama has long attracted surfers, and on any decent swell day, dozens of wetsuit-clad locals paddle out to catch waves. The beach itself is wide and sandy, backed by a coastal road lined with cafes and surf shops. Exploring the small streets just behind the beach reveals the charm of local Kamakura, with independent shops and cosy cafes that offer a glimpse into the community’s daily life. 

Several beachfront cafes have achieved near-legendary status among a certain type of Tokyo escapee. Bills Shichirigahama, an Australian-style cafe, offers enormous windows overlooking the ocean and serves pancakes that have developed an almost cult following. Arriving for breakfast means likely waiting in line, but the combination of ocean views, excellent coffee, and ricotta hotcakes makes a strong argument for the wait. 

For a more local experience, Pacific Drive-In serves California-style tacos and craft beer in a converted garage with roll-up doors opening to the beach. Meanwhile, the Sunrise Shack serves acai- and smoothie bowls with bullet coffee, representing a new style of beach bites.

Watching the sun set over Enoshima Island while surfers catch final waves, captures something essential about Kamakura’s appeal: the ability to be simultaneously deeply cultured and totally laid-back. 

The Enoden: A Train Journey Through Time

Connecting Kamakura’s various districts is the Enoden Line (Enoshima Electric Railway), a four-car electric train with historical significance that’s become nearly as iconic as the city’s temples. This antique railway, built in 1902, runs 10 kilometres from Kamakura Station to Fujisawa, hugging the coast and passing through impossibly narrow gaps between houses.

The Enoden Line feels more like a trolley than a proper train, rattling along at modest speeds, stopping at tiny stations, occasionally running so close to houses that passengers can see into second-story windows. After leaving Kamakura Station, visitors can easily transfer from JR lines to the Enoden Line, providing convenient access to local attractions and sightseeing spots throughout the area. 

The stretch between Kamakura and Enoshima offers particularly scenic sections where the train runs directly alongside the ocean, close enough that spray from large waves can reach the windows. The stations themselves are miniature gems, many barely more than a platform with a tiny waiting room.

Gokurakuji Station, voted one of Japan’s most beautiful train stations, features a traditional wooden structure surrounded by hydrangeas. Kamakurakōkōmae Station, perched where the tracks cross a coastal road, has become famous as the setting for scenes in the anime “Slam Dunk,” and now attracts pilgrims of a different sort, fans recreating iconic shots with the ocean and Enoshima Island in the background. 

Moreover, some local restaurants and coffee shops took advantage of the special closeness of the Enoden Line, opening seats and windows towards the train tracks. For example, at yoridokoro, you can have a traditional Japanese set meal overlooking the Enoden. Other spots worth a mention are: Cafe Luonto, The Circus, and AWkitchen Garden. 

An Enoden 1-day pass (Kamakura Free Environment Pass) costs only 900 yen and allows for unlimited rides, making it possible to hop off at various stations, explore the immediate area, then catch the next train.

Enoshima, The Island Escape

While technically separate from Kamakura, Enoshima Island sits just offshore, connected by a 600-meter bridge, and makes a perfect addition to a Kamakura weekend trip. This small island, barely four kilometres in circumference, rises dramatically from the water, crowned with shrines, a lighthouse, and gardens that have attracted Tokyoites seeking seaside recreation since the Edo Period. 

The island's slopes are steep, accessed either by climbing stone stairs, a significant workout, or taking a series of escalators that, rather wonderfully, have been installed through the middle of the island. The escalators feel like cheating until you realise they've simply made the island's upper reaches accessible to elderly visitors and families with small children, a democratic improvement over the traditional Japanese approach of making everything a test of endurance. 

Enoshima Shrine, actually a complex of three separate shrines, occupies much of the island. The main shrine, dedicated to Benzaiten, dates to 1206 and draws worshippers seeking good fortune in music, entertainment, and financial matters. The shrine grounds are lovely, but the real attractions lie higher up. 

The Samuel Cocking Garden, a botanical garden created by a British merchant in 1880, features subtropical plants and a distinctive lighthouse, Sea Candle, that offers 360-degree views from its observation deck. On clear days, the view encompasses the entire Shonan Coast, with Mount Fuji rising majestically to the west. Sunset from this vantage point, watching the sky turn orange over the Pacific while Fuji darkens to silhouette, ranks among the region's most spectacular free shows. 

The island's western side offers sea caves, Iwaya Caves, carved by wave action and human hands over centuries. Buddhist monks once used these caves for ascetic practices, and now they're lit with coloured lights and filled with statues depicting dragons and various deities. 

Eating Well in Kamakura

Kamakura’s food scene reflects its character, casual but quality-conscious, traditional yet open to outside influences. The city’s proximity to both ocean and farmland ensures excellent ingredients, and its popularity with creative types fleeing Tokyo means interesting restaurants appear regularly. Many of Kamakura's best restaurants and cafes are within walking distance of major temples and beaches, making it easy for visitors to enjoy local cuisine while exploring the city's main attractions. 

Shirasu-don, a bowl of rice topped with tiny raw whitebait fish caught in Sagami Bay, is Kamakura’s signature dish. These transparent, delicate fish are available only from March to December, and eating them fresh, literally hours out of the ocean, is a seasonal pleasure taken seriously here. Numerous restaurants along the coast specialise in shirasu, and the dish appears in multiple forms: raw, boiled, and dried – and sometimes, even as a topping on pizza! The raw version, eaten with soy sauce and ginger over rice, offers oceanic freshness that’s almost shocking. 

For something more substantial, Kamakura’s proximity to the ocean means excellent seafood across the board. Umizoi no Kikori Shokudo serves outstanding sashimi sets and grilled fish, sourcing directly from local fishermen.

Vegetarians and vegans can find surprising options in Kamakura, largely due to the influence of Buddhist temple cuisine. Hachinoki Kita-Kamakura Shinkan, near Engaku-ji Temple, specialises in shojin ryori, Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, presented with elegant simplicity in traditional tatami rooms. The food is primarily vegetables, tofu, and seasonal ingredients prepared with techniques refined over centuries, proving that vegetarian food need not be a compromise but can be genuinely sophisticated cuisine. 

Café Culture in Kamakura

Small, independently owned coffee shops populate the city’s backstreets, many occupying converted traditional houses. Garden House Kamakura, set in a renovated ancient house with a large garden, serves excellent coffee and locally-sourced meals in an atmosphere of studied tranquillity. Arriving mid-afternoon, when the lunch rush has cleared, offers the best experience, securing a garden-facing seat and lingering over coffee while birds visit feeders outside the window. 

Another local independent coffee shop is Kannon Coffee. Inspired by the golden Kannon statue of Hasedera Temple (and located nearby as well), this cafe serves not only seasonally flavoured coffee, but also funky crepes with a Kannon-shaped waffles on top (as pictured above the section).

Lastly, Verve Coffee sets the quality standard for specialty coffee and fesh waffles. With multiple locations across Northern and Central Kamakura, this is a sure spot to get your caffeine fix right. 

Coffee and food lovers will find a myriad of other options on the Komachi Street next to Kamakura Station, filled with restaurants, bars, cafes and tea houses. 

Practical Weekend Planning

The best way to visit Kamakura is to choose fewer destinations and allow margin for the unexpected, making time for seasonal attractions and spontaneous discoveries: the tiny shrine discovered down a side street, the cafe that wasn’t on any list but has perfect coffee, the little smiling statues tucked in a temple’s garden, the conversation with a local surfer about wave conditions. 

Kamakura reveals itself slowly. A weekend provides an introduction and highlights, but only begins to penetrate the layers. Regulars, and there are many Tokyoites who escape to Kamakura almost weekly, develop favourite temples, preferred beaches, and beloved restaurants. Enjoy! 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Kamakura from Tokyo?

Take the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station directly to Kamakura Station, the journey takes 50-60 minutes and costs around 950 yen one way. No transfers needed, making it one of the easiest day trips from Tokyo. 

How many days do I need in Kamakura?

A weekend (two days) is ideal for experiencing Kamakura's main attractions without rushing. You can cover the major temples, do some hiking, visit the beaches, and explore Enoshima Island comfortably. A single day is possible but requires careful planning and means skipping either the hiking or beach time. 

What's the best time of year to visit Kamakura?

June and early July for the hydrangea season at the temples, autumn (October-November) for Autumn colours and comfortable weather, or late spring (April-May) for pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds. Avoid Golden Week (late April/early May) and the August peak summer season when crowds are heaviest. 

Is Kamakura worth visiting if I've already been to Kyoto?

Absolutely. While both have temples, Kamakura offers something Kyoto cannot: beaches, coastal hiking, and a relaxed surf town atmosphere. The combination of spiritual sites and seaside recreation makes Kamakura unique, and its proximity to Tokyo makes it ideal for a quick escape. 

Can I swim at Kamakura's beaches?

Yes, swimming is popular from July through early September when lifeguards are on duty. The water is generally clean and safe, though waves can be strong. Shichirigahama and Yuigahama are the most popular swimming beaches. Outside the summer months, the beaches are perfect for walks, but the water is quite cold. 

Do I need to buy individual tickets for each temple?

Yes, each temple charges a separate admission, typically 200-600 yen. There's no multi-temple pass, but the individual fees are reasonable. Budget around 2,000-3,000 yen total for temple admissions over a full weekend. 

Should I stay overnight in Kamakura or day trip from Tokyo?

Either works well. Day tripping is easy, given the short train ride from Tokyo, but staying overnight allows you to experience Kamakura at dawn before crowds arrive and enjoy the evening beach atmosphere. Several guesthouses and ryokan offer accommodation if you prefer a more relaxed pace. 

Is the Daibutsu Hiking Trail difficult?

No, it's an easy trail suitable for anyone with basic fitness. The 3-kilometre route takes 90 minutes to 2 hours, with some uphill sections and stairs, but nothing technical. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water, especially in summer. 

What should I eat in Kamakura?

Don't miss shirasu-don (fresh whitebait fish over rice), available March through December at coastal restaurants. Fresh seafood is excellent throughout the city. The cafe culture is strong, particularly the beachfront cafes at Shichirigahama. Vegetarians will find good options at temples serving shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). 

Can I visit Kamakura and Enoshima in one day?

Yes, they're very close – Enoshima is just a 25-minute Enoden train ride from Kamakura Station. Many visitors combine both in one day, though this means choosing between hiking or extensive temple visits. A more relaxed approach dedicates one day to Kamakura's temples and hiking, another to beaches and Enoshima Island.