You can use trains and buses! Great ticket “Kamakura Free Environmental Bill”

*This is an article posted on February 2, 2024. Please note that the contents may change.

What is “Kamakura Free Environmental Bill”?
In order to enjoy sightseeing in the Kamakura area, this is a great value free ticket that allows you to freely hop on and off the five route buses and the Enoden train that operates in designated areas for one day.
If you use this free ticket, you can also receive discounts and free gifts at approximately 70 participating stores, temples, and shrines.

Sales location:
Enoshima Electric Railway Kamakura Station, Hase Station
Keikyu Bus Kamakura Office, Kamakura Station Information Center

release date:
All year round except January 1st to 3rd
*Sales are not available when the sales location is closed.

Fee:
Adult 900 yen
Child 450 yen

Available sections:
Train Enoshima Electric Railway Kamakura Station to Hase Station
Bus (Keihin Kyuko Bus, Enoden Bus starting from Kamakura Station)
Within the area between Kita-Kamakura Station, Daitomiya, Jomyoji Temple, Daibutsu-mae, and Nagoshi

Please click here for more details.

This time, I started from Kamakura Station, so I got off the station and bought an "environmental note."

I immediately boarded the Enoden train and headed to Hasedera Temple.
Hasedera Temple, which is famous for its large red lanterns, ``gate-covered pine,'' and smiling Jizo statue, is a 5-minute walk from Enoden Hase Station.
Hasedera Temple, which is home to beautiful seasonal flowers throughout the year, is said to be called ``Kamakura's Western Paradise.''
It is very famous and many people visit during the hydrangeas in early summer and the changing leaves in autumn.

At Hasedera Temple, which is eligible for special services, you can receive a mini clear file by presenting your Kamakura Free Environmental Bill.

We recommend taking a leisurely stroll around the large grounds, including the Kannon Museum and the observation deck that overlooks the Kamakura cityscape and Yuigahama Beach.

Hasedera temple
Location 3-11-2 Hasaya, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture
Official homepage here

After taking a leisurely stroll around Hasedera Temple, I got a little hungry, so I boarded the Enoden train again and headed to Kamakura.

While strolling around Komachi Street, I checked the list of participating stores to satisfy my hunger and was surprised to find that many popular stores were participating.
This time, I decided to go to Kamakura Katsutei Arada Sohonten, a tokatsu specialty store located in an elegant warehouse-style building at the intersection of Wakamiya-oji, not far from Kamakura Station.

Carefully selected pork is used, and you can enjoy juicy tonkatsu with just a touch of fat, as well as fried seafood.

As a benefit of the "Kamakura Free Environmental Bill", you will receive a 5% discount on the total amount. (Only for cash accounting)

Kamakura Katsutei Aradama main store
Location: 1-5-24 Komachi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business hours Lunch 11:00-16:00 Dinner 16:00-22:00
Official website here

One of the attractions of the ``Kamakura Free Environmental Bill'' is that you can ride as many buses as you like within designated areas.
Both Keikyu Bus and Enoden Bus are available.
・Available from the bus rotary at the east exit of Kamakura Station.
・For those heading to Kita-Kamakura Station: Kamakura Station East Exit (Platform 2)
・For those heading to Jomyoji Temple: Kamakura Station East Exit (Platform No. 4)
・For those heading to Daitogu Shrine: Kamakura Station East Exit (Platform 5)
・For those heading to Daibutsu-mae: Kamakura Station East Exit (Platform 1, Platform 6)
・For those heading to Nagoshi: Kamakura Station East Exit (Platform 3)
*For details on the boarding point, please see here ( Kamakura City official website )

Next, we will board the train at platform 2 to head to Kenchoji Temple.

From Kamakura Station to Kenchoji Temple, we passed through tourist attractions such as ``Wakamiya Oji, Kamakura Hachimangu-mae, and Hachimangu Back,'' so even though we were inside the car, it felt like we were sightseeing by bus.
After about 10 minutes of riding, you will arrive at Kenchoji Temple.

Kenchoji is the first Zen temple in Japan and the first of Kamakura's five temples.
It is a temple with many attractions such as the Sanmon gate, which has been designated as an important cultural property of the country, and ceiling paintings, and is also famous as the origin of *Kenchinjiru (Kenchojiru) (there are some theories).

I received a picture postcard as a benefit of the "Kamakura Free Environmental Bill."

After viewing the Karamon gate of the Hojo, which is a nationally important cultural property, we recommend that you sit and take a break at the bottom of the Hojo.
You will forget the passage of time while looking at the beautiful Japanese garden with its lush greenery.
(The ``hojo'' is said to be the area inside the temple where the chief priest lived.Currently, it is a place where memorial services and zazen can be held.)

Kenchoji Temple
Location: 8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Official website here

When I checked the bus schedule, the next bus was scheduled to arrive soon, so I decided to take the bus again to Kita-Kamakura Station.
The next destination is Engakuji Temple.
Engakuji Temple is located right next to Kita-Kamakura Station.
This time by bus, it will take you about 9 minutes.

Engaku-ji Temple, along with the aforementioned Kencho-ji Temple, is said to be a temple that represents the Kamakura Zen sect.

Next to the stairs, bright greenery continues all the way to the main gate.
This main gate, where the greenery turns bright red in autumn, is also famous for its beautiful autumn leaves.

I received a picture postcard as a benefit of the "Kamakura Free Environmental Bill."

Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Kamakura has many valleys cut into the mountains, called yato.
Engakuji Temple takes advantage of this topography and is a temple with many attractions, including two national treasures, located on a large site with a layout that starts from the main gate to the third gate and gradually climbs up.

Engakuji Temple
Location: 409 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City
Official website here

Your one-day tour of Kamakura using the "Kamakura Free Environmental Bill" ends here.
I took a bus from Kita-Kamakura Station back to Kamakura Station.

Using the bus can save you a lot of travel time, so it's also recommended for visiting goshuin stamps.

Kamakura has so many things to see, but the only drawback may be transportation to your destination.
The Kamakura Free Environmental Pass is a great value free pass that allows you to get on and off local buses as many times as you like.