omoide house

Tokyo’s rainy season starts in June in general. June is also a typical blooming season of “Ajisai”, hydrangea. Kamakura is well known for Ajisai, and especially Kita-Kamakura (North Kamakura) is famous for Ajisai. Although it’s not pleasant weather to go for a walk on a rainy day, full bloom Ajisai is worth your trip.

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Access

Kamakura area is one of famous tourist places so it’s usually really crowded. Therefore, I recommend you take public transportation instead of driving your car.

You need to get off at Kita-Kamakura Station of JR Yokosuka Line. It takes about an hour from Shinjuku Station and about 50 minutes from Tokyo Station to Kamakura by train.

Nevertheless, I was stupid enough to take my car on weekend during the best Ajisai season… Obviously it was super crowded and we couldn’t find any parking space near Kita-Kamakura area.

At the end, we ended up going to one station away to Kamakura Station. Fortunately, we were able to park our car there. If you absolutely have to bring your car (with small children, etc.), I recommend you park your car in different station and take train to Kita-Kamakura Station.

We headed to Kita-Kamakura area where it is famous for Ajisai.

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Where to go for Ajisai

Tokei-ji Temple

Address: 1367 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture 247-0062
Phone: 0467-22-1663
Official site: https://tokeiji.com/
Entrance fee: 200 yen/person  

Do I recommend?
It’s worth visiting one time if you know in advanced Ajisai has fully bloomed. You will see a lot of Ajisai in a very concentrated way but the temple itself is very tiny. So you might feel it’s not worth the entrance fee. But when Ajisai is full bloom, they are definitely beautiful.  

Engaku-ji Temple (recommendation)

Address: 409 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0062
Phone: 0467-22-0478
Official site: http://www.engakuji.or.jp/
Entrance fee: 300 yen/person  

Do I recommend?
Yes! There wasn’t as many Ajisai as I expected but enough to enjoy. The temple is very large and nice for a walk even without Ajisai.  

Engaku-ji Temple is one of the famous places for Ajisai in Kamakura.

It’s 100 yen more expensive than Tokei-ji Temple. But I recommend this temple more than Tokei-ji Temple. It’s worth it.

Engaku-ji temple is nice to visit just for a walk too. I think it is relatively new and very large too. I almost felt Kyoto here.

I guess this is the famous spot because picture of the same spot is on the tickets as well.

Seeing these pictures from a few years back, it makes me want to go see Ajisai. Kamakura is now too far from where I live, but I would like to find some places with Ajisai near my place.

Enjoy rainy season!