Entertainment in Kamakura is mostly educational. These include walks through temple complexes, trails through the forest and visits to museums. A vacation in Kamakura offers meditative contemplation of nature and immersion in Japanese culture. No wonder, because the ancient capital of Japan was once the center of the birth of Japanese Zen Buddhism. To this day, an atmosphere of peace and philosophy still reigns in the city and its wooded surroundings.
There are no European-style amusement parks in Kamakura. Genjiyama Park is preferable for outdoor walks and picnics. It is especially beautiful in March and April, during the cherry blossom season. Many people from Tokyo and other major surrounding cities come here to admire the blossoming trees.
The main concentration of activities for children and adults in Kamakura are the beaches. Yugiahama Beach, the most extensive and close to hotels, is particularly popular.
From July to the end of August, it hosts beach discos, games including the local "smash the watermelon", festivals, concerts, and of course the well-known hanabi fireworks show. Another beach, Sitirigahami, offers surfing. And cycling enthusiasts can rent a bike right 50 meters from the train station.
Fans of historical festivals can visit Kamakura in April and September, when the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine hosts a yabusame - archery competition from the back of a horse. Participants dress in traditional costumes from the Kamakura shogunate period, and the festival itself reconstructs the martial traditions of the period.
The Kamakura museums deserve a special mention. The Literature Museum, Museum of Modern Art and other museums in the ancient Japanese capital allow you to immerse yourself in Japan's unique art and history.
Nightlife in Kamakura, the laid-back city that is the center of Japanese religious pilgrimage, is virtually non-existent. If you want to spend time in a nightclub, it's worth the drive from Kamakura to Tokyo, where you'll have a great time at any of the venues.
