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Kamakura, a historic city rich in nature and ancient charm, offers a truly special experience for families with young children. This guide provides a detailed one-day itinerary, carefully designed for those traveling with a young child and a baby, considering both stroller and baby carrier needs. You’ll find kid-friendly lunch options and essential diaper changing information.
The ancient capital of Kamakura, with its rich history and stunning natural beauty, is bursting with charm, not just for adults, but for families with children of all ages!
This time, I’m thrilled to share a one-day model course for Kamakura that’s specifically designed for a family from U.S. with little ones – a 5-year-old and a 6-month-old baby – paying close attention to both stroller-friendly and baby carrier-friendly routes. You’ll also find details on kid-approved lunch spots and essential diaper changing information.
Kamakura holds a special place in my heart; it’s where I was born and where my family lived until recently. I’ve been here countless times, and every visit is meaningful.
9:00 AM: Meet at the Hotel, Depart Your nearest Station (This time, Ueno!)
Your journey begins with the first meeting at the hotel! The smooth train ride from your Ueno hotel to Kamakura. The JR Ueno-Tokyo Line connects seamlessly to the Yokosuka Line at Totsuka Station, with convenient same-platform transfers perfect for strollers.
A quick tip from your guide: Japanese trains are renowned for their punctuality and cleanliness. Although trains are usually on time, with longer travel times, occasional delays can still occur. In fact, on this very trip, a train delay caused a slight deviation from Google Maps, which made me a bit anxious, but I was able to navigate. Well, it’s part of the adventure!
10:50 AM: Arrive in Kamakura
Welcome to Kamakura! You’ll find diaper changing facilities available in the station restrooms.
11:00 AM: Lunch at Garden House Kamakura
Just a short walk from Kamakura Station, it’s time for lunch at Garden House Kamakura.
A quick tip from your guide: This charming restaurant, nestled in a lush garden, feels like a hidden gem. They pride themselves on dishes made with fresh, local ingredients. Their roast ham and freshly baked pizzas are particularly delicious – kids usually love pizza! High chairs and cutlery for children are readily available. This is a popular spot, so reservations are essential. You’ll also find diaper changing facilities here.
https://tabelog.com/kanagawa/A1404/A140402/14048198/
12:30 PM: Take the Enoden to Hase
After lunch, hop on the quaint Enoden Line to Hase Station. This retro train offers picturesque views as it hugs the coastline, making the journey an attraction in itself.
A quick tip from your guide: The Enoden Line is famous for its unique route, often passing incredibly close to local homes. The views of Kamakura’s streets and the sparkling Shonan coastline will be unforgettable for your children. It’s more than just transport; it’s a nostalgic ride!
1:00 PM: Hase Temple: The Temple of Flowers & Goddess of Mercy
A mere 5-minute walk from Hase Station brings you to Hase Temple, a sacred site for Kannon worship.
A quick tip from your guide: Hase Temple is known as “The Temple of Flowers” for its stunning seasonal blooms. The main hall houses the Eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva, one of Japan’s largest wooden statues, standing at an impressive 9.18 meters. Kannon is believed to transform into various forms to relieve suffering, and her compassionate presence is truly moving. From the observation deck, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of Kamakura, Yuigahama beach, and Sagami Bay. Don’t miss the charming smiling Jizo statues and a small cave, which are big hits with kids! This temple also houses Mizuko Jizo statues, honoring children who passed away early, a meaning often unknown to many Japanese visitors.
For babies: There’s a designated stroller parking area right inside the temple entrance. A baby carrier is essential for exploring the temple, as it’s built on a hillside with many stairs. While the famous hydrangea path involves a challenging uphill walk not ideal for babies, you can still enjoy plenty without it. Diaper changing facilities are available near the entrance restrooms.
2:00 PM: Kotoku-in Temple (The Great Buddha of Kamakura): Witness Japan’s Iconic Symbol
Just a 5-minute walk from Hase Temple, you’ll encounter the majestic Great Buddha of Kamakura at Kotoku-in Temple. Its imposing presence is a true symbol of Japan.
A quick tip from your guide: Formally known as “Bronze Amida Buddha,” this National Treasure was started in 1252 and was once covered in gold leaf. Standing about 11.3 meters tall and weighing 121 tons, its sheer size is awe-inspiring. You can even enter inside the Buddha to see its structure up close! This enduring statue has withstood countless natural disasters, steadfastly watching over Kamakura. The 5-year-old on our tour today told me she dreamed of seeing the Great Buddha (Super cute!).
Visiting its interior and seeing the giant straw sandals (representing its foot size) will hopefully be a memory she cherishes forever.
For babies: The temple grounds are generally flat and well-maintained, allowing easy stroller access to the Great Buddha. Diaper changing facilities are available for your convenience.
3:00 PM: Coffee and Gelato Break
Time for a refreshing break! This family loves coffee, and both the 5-year-old and I were thrilled with the gelato here.
UNICOFFEE ROASTERY (photo from website)
3:30 PM: Take the Enoden back to Kamakura Station
Board the Enoden once more for the return trip to Kamakura Station.
A quick tip from your guide: While the Enoden station platforms are flat with ramps, be aware that the trains are narrow and can get very crowded, especially on busy days, so you might not get on the first train. As you ride, you’ll notice how close the train passes by residential homes – it almost feels like you’re peeking inside!
3:45 PM: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine: The Protector of the Warrior Capital
A 10-minute walk from Kamakura Station leads you to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, a prominent shrine with many fascinating aspects.
A quick tip from your guide: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo when he founded the Kamakura Shogunate, making it the most important shrine in Kamakura. The Dankazura, a raised pathway leading from the entrance to the main shrine, was built by Yoritomo to pray for his wife Masako’s safe childbirth and is particularly beautiful during cherry blossom and azalea seasons. However, note that the entrance from the Second Torii Gate near Kamakura Station has two steps. The shrine grounds include the Genpei Pond, the Maiden (a stage for ceremonial dances), and the main hall. Here, you can experience Japanese Shinto rituals – the basic prayer involves two bows, two claps, and one final bow.
For strollers: The Dankazura path is accessible. While the 61-step grand staircase leading to the main hall (Hon-gu) is challenging even for adults, there’s a slope and elevator to the right, allowing stroller access near the top.
For baby carriers: You can directly climb the grand staircase to the main hall. Alternatively, a slightly gentler 70-step staircase with handrails is located behind the Wakamiya (right of the main hall), offering a safer option for those carrying babies or with small children, though still not suitable for strollers.
4:30 PM: Stroll through Komachi Dori, Depart Kamakura Station
After the shrine, take a walk through Komachi Dori, a bustling shopping street connecting Kamakura Station and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.
A quick tip from your guide: Komachi Dori is a vibrant street filled with matcha sweets, dango (rice dumplings), seafood restaurants specializing in local shirasu (whitebait) bowls, renovated traditional cafes, and souvenir shops. It developed alongside the opening of Kamakura Station in the Meiji era. Many shops offer diaper changing facilities. On our tour today, my guests enjoyed some local craft beer – I highly recommend trying it!
What did the guest said:
Return to your hotel in Tokyo. What a memorable day in Kamakura!
Lovely guests left me heartwarming words :
Today was our 11th anniversary of marriage. I am happy to celebrate with you!
Today was perfect. Thank you for even stopping the rain!
I will introduce you to our friends!
And what made me happiest was their comment, “Oh, I wish we could have had you for our entire itinerary! Could have been easier. Since this tour was arranged by an agency, Kamakura was my only assignment. If their other plans had allowed and our schedules aligned, I would have loved to travel more with this truly wonderful family.
Anyways, although it was a bit tight schedule with the rain, the train schedule went a bit differently, I am happy that they were satisfied. I sent them photos and other tips for the rest of their days in Tokyo.
Thank you, B family!
Planning Your Own Trip?
If this sounds like your kind of experience, feel free to copy the itinerary above — or better yet, reach out and let me create one just for you. Like I said, I am born there and visited there millions times so I have lots of my “favorite hidden gems”. Above are very basic itineraries that the agency made, but I can customize for you.
Whether you’re traveling solo, with family, or in a group of professionals like this one, I’ll make sure your time in Japan is meaningful, personalized, and unforgettable.
📩 Ready to design your Kamakura day?
📸 Or follow more adventures on Instagram @travelwithkids_ami , YouTube Ami from Japan
If we have not met- Hi, nice to meet you!
I’m Ami, a nationally certified interpreter-guide by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. I travel up to 100 days a year with my 3- and 1-year-old kids, while guiding high-end private tours for inbound luxury travelers.
My husband is from the U.S., and we also spend 2–3 months each year in our home in Seattle.
With my background in the international corporate world and experience traveling abroad for 1–3 months with small children, I now offer private family tours for affluent international guests visiting Japan. I also support business travelers with VIP-level arrangements.
You can see some (though not all) of my past tour activities here—feel free to take a look!
鎌倉ガイドしてきました！子連れファミリーと大満喫の1日！
先日、特別な鎌倉ツアーをガイドしてきました！5歳のお子さんと6ヶ月の赤ちゃんを連れた、初めて日本を訪れるアメリカ人ファミリーとの1日。私の生まれ故郷であり、家族と何度も訪れた特別な場所、鎌倉の魅力をたっぷりお伝えしてきました。
上野から鎌倉へ、そして早めのランチ！
ツアーの始まりは、上野のホテルから鎌倉への電車旅。JR上野東京ラインから横須賀線への乗り換えは、戸塚駅で同じホームなのでベビーカーでもスムーズです。日本の電車の清潔さやマナー、そして時には予期せぬ遅れがあることもお伝えしつつ、旅の第一歩を踏み出しました。
鎌倉駅に到着したら、まず向かったのは早めのランチ。人気のガーデンハウス鎌倉です。緑豊かな庭園に囲まれたおしゃれな空間で、ロースハムやピザなど地元の食材を活かした美味しい料理を堪能しました。お子様用のハイチェアやカトラリーも完備され、甲殻類アレルギーをお持ちのゲストにも配慮したメニューで、ご家族皆さんで安心して食事を楽しんでいただけました。店内にはおむつ替えスペースもあり、小さなお子様連れには本当にありがたい場所です。
江ノ電に乗って古都の魅力に触れる
ランチの後は、レトロな江ノ電に乗って長谷へ。窓の外には鎌倉の街並みや湘南の海が広がり、お子様たちも大喜びでした。江ノ電が民家の軒先をかすめるように走るユニークな光景は、観光客の皆さんにも大変好評です。
長谷駅から徒歩5分ほどで、美しい花々に彩られる「花の御寺」、長谷寺に到着です。荘厳な十一面観音菩薩立像の迫力に圧倒され、見晴台からの絶景では鎌倉の街と由比ヶ浜、相模湾を一望。お子様たちには洞窟や可愛らしいお地蔵さんが大人気で、私も改めて長谷寺の多様な魅力を再認識しました。ベビーカー置き場や入口近くのおむつ替え台も利用でき、抱っこ紐を使いながらも快適に過ごしていただけました。
そして、長谷寺からすぐの場所にある高徳院では、圧巻の鎌倉大仏とご対面！特に5歳のお子さんは「夢に見た大仏様！」と大興奮で、その姿に私も胸が熱くなりました。大仏の胎内巡りや、巨大な草鞋を見て、日本の歴史と文化を肌で感じていただけたことと思います。境内はベビーカーでも移動しやすく、おむつ替えスペースも完備されています。
途中で立ち寄ったカフェで、美味しいコーヒーとジェラートで休憩を挟み、再び江ノ電に乗って鎌倉駅へ戻りました。
鎌倉の守り神と賑やかな通り
旅の締めくくりは、鎌倉のシンボルである鶴岡八幡宮です。源頼朝ゆかりのこの場所では、武士の歴史や日本の神道の文化をじっくりとご紹介しました。本宮へ続く大石段は、ベビーカー利用のゲスト向けにエレベーターやスロープがあることを案内し、無理なく参拝できるようサポートしました。おむつ替えスペースも利用でき、安心して歴史的建造物を巡ることができました。
最後に、鎌倉駅と鶴岡八幡宮を結ぶ賑やかな小町通りを散策。お土産を見たり、ゲストはローカルクラフトビールを楽しんだり。多くのお店でおむつ替えも可能で、小さなお子様連れでも安心してショッピングやグルメを楽しめるのが魅力です。
ゲストのコメントと私の感想
「すごいいい1日だった！雨も止めてくれてありがとう！」「絶対紹介するね！」など嬉しい言葉をいただきました。ほっ
そして一番嬉しかったのは「ああ、全部の日程あなたにお願いできたらよかった」という言葉。今回は代理店の手配でしたので、鎌倉だけが私の担当でした。他があって日程が合えば、私もこの家族ともっと旅したかったくらい素敵なファミリーでした。
今回のツアーでは、電車の遅れなど予期せぬ出来事もありましたが、子どもたちの屈託のない笑顔と、日本の文化や歴史を知ろうとするゲストの好奇心な旺盛な姿に触れ、私自身も自分がよく子連れで行く鎌倉を人に紹介することのできた、忘れられない一日となりました。
今回のツアーでは、電車の遅れなど予期せぬ出来事もありましたが、子どもたちの屈託のない笑顔と、日本の文化や歴史を知ろうとするゲストの好奇心な旺盛な姿に触れ、私自身も自分がよく子連れで行く鎌倉を人に紹介することのできた、忘れられない一日となりました。
また、今回はすでに決められた工程でしたが、ランチの場所はアレルギーを調べながらいくつか電話し、一番人気のガーデンハウスを予約できたのがよかった。途中でコーヒー好きとわかってから人気の屋さんに寄れたのもよかったです。
にしても、少し慌ただしかったし、もっとお薦めもあるのにー！！とももちろん思います。
ただ初めての鎌倉にはちょうどいい内容だったかなと思います。長谷寺は自分自身のストーリーにも深く関係する場所で、そこを気に入ってもらえたのも嬉しかった。私自身も子連れ旅行者なので、多少の遅れなどのハプニングや、同じ場所のリピートは幼児の行動としても想定内です。笑
グズリもなく、とってもいい子達で感動的でした。
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初めましての方へ；年間多い年は100日3歳1歳の子連れで旅しながら、国土交通省の全国通訳士として富裕層の案内をしているAmiです。夫の出身国であるアメリカ・シアトルの家にも、年に２ー３ヶ月過ごしています。最近は外資で働いていた経験・子連れで海外１ヶ月・３ヶ月など中長期海外旅していた経験を活かして、インバウンドの富裕層プライベートファミリーツアーを行なっています。またビジネス出張者の方の対応も行ないます。過去のツアーの様子は（全てではありませんが）いくつかこちらに載せていますのでぜひご覧ください。
