Kamakura is a beautiful coastal city in Kanagawa Prefecture, just an hour south of central Tokyo. Once the main political hub of Japan, it's often compared to Kyoto because of its 150 temples and shrines. The most famous of Kamakura's attractions is the Great Buddha of Kamakura at Kotoku-in Temple, the second-largest bronze Buddha statue in the country.
There are plenty of things to do in Kamakura, from touring the gorgeous temples and shrines to sampling the delicious food in the area. Both Kamakura and Enoshima — a nearby island with panoramic ocean views — are great places to relax on the beach during the warmer months.
One of the city's main attractions is Komachi Dori, a shopping street packed with souvenir stores and cafes, plus lots of street food stalls offering a delicious mix of classic Japanese snacks and trendy treats.
Kamakura Street Food: Tastiest Treats on Komachi Dori Street
There are plenty of things to do in Kamakura, from touring the gorgeous temples and shrines to sampling the delicious food in the area. Both Kamakura and Enoshima – a nearby island with panoramic ocean views – are great places to relax on the beach during the warmer months.
One of the city’s main attractions is Komachi Dori, a shopping street packed with souvenir stores and cafes, plus lots of street food stalls offering a delicious mix of classic Japanese snacks and trendy new treats.
Check out the video for a closer look at all the tasty Kamakura street food Shizuka discovers!
7 Kamakura Street Foods To Try
- Deep-fried Fish Cake
- Corn Fish Cake
- Shrimp Shumai
- Cup Sushi
- Deep-fried Bread (Age Pan)
- Blueberry Cream Cheese Buddha Cake
- Ichigo Dango
1. Deep-fried Fish Cake
As a coastal city, Kamakura cuisine includes some of the freshest seafood around. Deep-fried fish cakes have a bouncy texture and subtle, sweet flavor, allowing the fish's taste to speak for itself.
2. Corn Fish Cake
Next is a corn fish cake, which blends a fish cake base with whole pieces of corn to create a distinctive snack with a super soft consistency and even sweeter flavor. Served on a wooden skewer, it's perfect for nibbling on as you explore Kamakura!
3. Shrimp Shumai
The final treat of the seafood trio is shrimp shumai. Order a set of three steamed dumplings filled with shrimp meat and coated in ponzu sauce — a chewy and juicy mouthful with every bite.
4. Cup Sushi
This unique dish is exactly what it sounds like — different types of sushi fish served in a large cup! It's an interesting and modern take on a Japanese classic, with layers of glistening salmon roe, sushi rice mixed with sesame seeds, rolled omelet, crunchy salted pickles, shirasu (whitebait fish), and mushrooms.
5. Deep-fried Bread (Age Pan)
Deep-tried bead is best tried straight out of the fryer and piping hot. The inside is super soft and fluffy, with a dusting of kinako (roasted soybean flour) on the outside to give it a nutty flavor that's distinctively Japanese.
6. Blueberry Cream Cheese Buddha Cake
For a sweet treat that is unmistakably Kamakura-esque, this Buddha-shaped cake is hard to beat! The outside is reminiscent of a fluffy pancake with the added crispness of a waffle, while the inside oozes with a yummy blueberry and cream cheese filling.
7. Ichigo Dango
Your final sample of Kamakura street food must be ichigo dango, strawberry mochi (rice cake) balls on a stick. These beautifully decorated, chewy rice cakes are layered with sweet, fresh strawberries, offering a delicious mix of textures and flavors.
3 Food Experiences in Kamakura
Kamakura is the perfect place to get acquainted with traditional Japanese cuisine through a cooking class or guided food tour. Here are three experiences you can include in your itinerary:
- Vegan and Shojin Style Cooking Workshop
- Kamakura Tour: Anime Locations, Street Food, & Shrines
- Cooking Japanese Tofu Vegetarian & Vegan Home Recipes
Kamakura Access Information
A Kamakura day trip from Tokyo is a fantastic and convenient addition to your Japan travel itinerary.
- The journey from Shibuya or Shinjuku stations to Kamakura Station takes about an hour on the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line. From Tokyo Station, it's about an hour on the JR Yokosuka Line. Komachi Dori is just a few minutes from Kamakura Station.
