Kanagawa Prefecture Travel Guide: Yokohama, Kamakura and Hakone
Contents
Kanagawa brings together Yokohama’s bayfront, Kamakura’s temples and Hakone’s hot springs, museums and Lake Ashi. These places make a varied trip, but they are not one compact sightseeing area: the right starting station and onward connections depend on which part of the prefecture you want to visit. Choose your main area first, then check the complete rail journey, the attraction’s current admission information and your return plan.
This guide focuses on the practical differences between Yokohama, Kamakura and Hakone, with verified details for Hasedera, Kotoku-in and the Hakone Open-Air Museum. It also explains the Shinkansen entry points identified by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), compares published admission prices and offers a planning framework without assuming a fixed trip length or total budget. Official information for the attractions below was checked on 4 November 2026; confirm current notices before setting out.
Choose an area before planning the journey
The three best-known starting points in this guide offer different kinds of visits. Yokohama suits a city and bayfront itinerary, Kamakura is a choice for temples and a historic setting, and Hakone combines hot springs, art and Lake Ashi. JNTO also introduces regional foods including Misaki tuna and Shonan shirasu, so the prefecture’s appeal is not limited to its main sightseeing areas. See JNTO’s Kanagawa destination guide for its overview of the prefecture.
| Area | Main interests | First practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Yokohama | Minato Mirai and the Red Brick Warehouse | Your arrival station and the opening information for each place you plan to visit |
| Kamakura | Temples, including Hasedera and the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in | Last admission, walking routes and the order of your visits |
| Hakone | Hot springs, art and Lake Ashi | Your museum ticket option and onward transport from your arrival point |
Yokohama: bayfront and city sights
For a city-focused visit, begin by considering Minato Mirai or the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, both identified by JNTO as local attractions. Select the places that matter most to you before choosing a station or making a day plan, because the exact journey depends on your starting point and destinations. Check attraction information for the date you intend to go rather than assuming that a general description confirms opening hours.
Kamakura: temples and a historic setting
Kamakura is the area to consider if temples are central to your visit. This guide gives practical details for two places in Hase: Hasedera and Kotoku-in, the temple with the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Both identify Enoden Hase Station as their nearest station reference, but the published walks are separate estimates from the station, not a measured walk between the temples.
Hakone: hot springs, art and Lake Ashi
JNTO describes Hakone as a destination for hot springs and museums, and names Lake Ashi among its attractions. The Hakone Open-Air Museum is a specific option for an art-focused visit, with published hours, admission prices and online ticket prices that can be compared before you go. Because transport beyond your arrival station depends on your destination, check the onward journey to the museum, accommodation or other sight separately.
Rail access and route planning
Kanagawa can be reached by rail from Tokyo, according to JNTO. For travellers using the Tokaido Shinkansen from Kyoto, Osaka or Nagoya, JNTO identifies Shin-Yokohama as an entry point for Yokohama and Odawara as an entry point for Hakone. They serve different plans: choose between them according to your destination rather than treating either station as a universal gateway to the prefecture.
Plan from your actual starting station
Open a rail operator’s journey search and enter your real departure station and travel date. If you are arriving by Tokaido Shinkansen, use Shin-Yokohama as the starting point to investigate a Yokohama visit, or Odawara when planning for Hakone, then check the onward connections for your particular attraction or accommodation. Confirm each transfer and ticket’s coverage; the Shinkansen arrival station may not be the final stop for the place you intend to visit.
Before leaving, check the attraction’s official guide for its admission cutoff and closing time, then save a return journey as well as your outward route. If you are staying overnight, compare the accommodation’s location with the stations and onward transport relevant to your itinerary. JNTO’s overview establishes the broad access points, but it does not determine the best route for every individual journey.
Getting to Hasedera and Kotoku-in
Hasedera is about a five-minute walk from Enoden Hase Station, while Kotoku-in lists a seven-minute walk from the same station. Those are each attraction’s stated station-to-entrance walking estimates; they do not establish the time needed to walk from one temple to the other. Check the route on the day and allow time for the visit itself, especially if you intend to see both places.
Both attractions publish seasonal information that affects how late you can arrive. Hasedera distinguishes its reception hours from the time the grounds close, and Kotoku-in ends admission 15 minutes before its seasonal closing time. Read the relevant official guide before choosing the order of visits, rather than using closing time alone to decide when to set out.
A tour-company montage presents a route through several Kanagawa highlights, including the Enoden coastal line past Enoshima, Kamakura’s Great Buddha, Hakone’s mountains and hot springs, and Yokohama. It can provide a visual introduction to the range of settings in the prefecture, but it should not be treated as a timetable or transport guide. For journey planning, use current rail information and the official attraction details linked in this guide.
Kamakura temples: Hasedera and the Great Buddha
Hasedera and Kotoku-in are both in Hase, Kamakura, and each is within walking distance of Enoden Hase Station. Their admission charges are separate, and their hours and last-entry conditions differ, so check both before making a combined plan. The practical information below comes from the temples’ own guides: Hasedera’s visitor information and Kotoku-in’s official English site.
Hasedera: address, hours and admission
Hasedera is at 3-11-2 Hase, Kamakura, and lists a five-minute walk from Enoden Hase Station. Its usual reception time is 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the grounds closing at 5 p.m. From April through June, reception is extended to 5 p.m. and closing is extended to 5:30 p.m.; plan around the reception cutoff, not just the later time the grounds close.
The listed admission is ¥400 for an adult and ¥200 for an elementary-school child. Hasedera’s regular guide does not establish every special seasonal reception condition, including any additional arrangements that might apply during hydrangea season. Check the temple’s current announcements for the date of your visit rather than assuming that the usual schedule covers every seasonal situation.
Hasedera lists ordinary-car parking at ¥350 per 30 minutes and says that parking cannot be reserved. Drivers should account for the charge and lack of reservation availability when deciding whether to travel by car. For a rail visit, the published walk from Hase Station provides a direct reference point, but check your own route and allow time to arrive before reception ends.
Kotoku-in: Great Buddha admission and last entry
Kotoku-in, home of the Great Buddha of Kamakura, is at 4-2-28 Hase and lists a seven-minute walk from Enoden Hase Station. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from April through September and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October through March. Admission ends 15 minutes before closing, so arriving at the listed closing time is too late to enter.
General admission is listed at ¥300, with a ¥150 rate for visitors aged six through twelve. Entering the inside of the Great Buddha has a separate listed charge of ¥50; it is not included in the general admission price. Kotoku-in says that reservations are not required and that the temple has no car parking, which are useful distinctions when choosing how to visit.
Because both temples are near the same station, visitors may consider them for one outing, but the station walking estimates do not tell you how long to spend at either site or between them. Check reception and last-entry details for your chosen date, then decide whether your available time allows for both. If driving, note that Hasedera lists paid parking that cannot be reserved, while Kotoku-in says it has no car parking.
Hakone Open-Air Museum: tickets, hours and practical costs
The Hakone Open-Air Museum is at 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone. It is listed as open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m., so leave time to reach the entrance before the cutoff. Check the museum’s official admission information before travelling.
The museum says it is generally open year-round, including New Year, but severe weather such as a typhoon or heavy snow may cause a temporary closure. General year-round operation does not guarantee access on a particular day if conditions lead to a closure. Check the museum’s official FAQ and contact information for current notices before setting out, especially when the weather may affect your plans.
Compare the published ticket prices
The museum lists different prices for tickets bought on the day and tickets bought online. At the listed rates, the online price is ¥200 lower in each of the three age categories shown below; compare the applicable category and confirm the current ticket information before purchase.
| Visitor category | On-the-day price | Online price |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | ¥2,000 | ¥1,800 |
| University or high-school student | ¥1,600 | ¥1,400 |
| Elementary or junior-high student | ¥800 | ¥600 |
The museum says that groups of 15 or more need a group reservation. Its web tickets can be purchased for up to 14 people, so the web-ticket limit and the group-reservation requirement are important to distinguish when planning for a larger party. Check the museum’s current admission and ticket information for the relevant purchase details.
Allow for the last-admission time
The museum’s 5 p.m. closing time is not the same as its last-admission time: visitors must enter by 4:30 p.m. Use that earlier cutoff when planning how to reach the museum, particularly if you are combining it with other travel in Hakone. The supplied official information establishes the museum’s hours and ticket options, but it does not set out a complete route for every visitor’s starting point.
Seasons, budget and trip pace
Start a budget with the confirmed attraction prices, then add the rail journeys, local transport, meals and accommodation that apply to your own dates and party. The available information does not establish a total budget for a trip across Kanagawa, because the starting point, length of stay, lodging and itinerary are not fixed. For a hotel or ryokan, ask for the total cost for your party, what meals are included, the cancellation conditions and how to travel from your arrival station.
| Budget item | What this guide can confirm | What to check for your trip |
|---|---|---|
| Hasedera admission | Adult ¥400; elementary-school child ¥200 | Current announcements and any seasonal reception conditions |
| Kotoku-in admission | General ¥300; ages six through twelve ¥150; Great Buddha interior ¥50 extra | Seasonal closing time and last entry |
| Hakone Open-Air Museum | Published prices vary by visitor category and purchase method | Current ticket information and any closure notice |
| Transport, meals and lodging | No prefecture-wide total is established | Your dates, route, party size and accommodation |
Season can affect practical planning without guaranteeing a particular sight or experience. Hasedera’s published reception schedule changes from April through June, but the usual guide does not establish every special hydrangea-season condition. Flowering, weather and views of Mount Fuji are not guaranteed for a particular date, so check current facility and transport notices rather than building a plan around an assumed display or view.
If weather matters, check directly with the attraction before changing a reservation or making a journey. The Hakone Open-Air Museum says it may close temporarily in severe weather, including typhoons or heavy snow. More generally, keep a return route and accommodation details available so you can reassess your plans if transport or a venue’s operating information changes.
Different visit lengths will suit different priorities, and the supplied information does not prescribe how many days to spend in the prefecture. A focused plan can concentrate on one area, while a broader itinerary requires you to check the connections between the areas you choose. Avoid treating Yokohama, Kamakura and Hakone as interchangeable stops on one rail line: identify each destination, verify the full journey and allow enough time for its admission schedule.
Social posts and other visitor perspectives
Social posts can help you see how different travellers present Kanagawa, but they do not replace official sources for current hours, prices or booking requirements. The posts below offer a range of perspectives, from short regional highlights to individual trip routes. Check the linked official information above when you need a current, decision-ready detail.
- A Kanagawa highlights reel introduces several areas of the prefecture.
- A Japanese-language Kamakura and Yokohama day-trip reel shares one traveller’s route.
- An Indonesian-language Kanagawa reel introduces Hakone, Kamakura and Yokohama.
- A French-language Kanagawa reel offers another itinerary perspective.
- Visit Kanagawa’s cultural itinerary post presents several sights.
- JNTO Philippines’ Shonan post introduces the coastal region.
- An illustrated Japanese guide presents ideas for a first trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which Shinkansen station should I use for Kanagawa?
JNTO identifies Shin-Yokohama as an entry point for Yokohama and Odawara as an entry point for Hakone. Choose according to the area you plan to visit, then check the onward journey to your particular attraction or accommodation. These entry points do not mean that either station is the final stop for every destination.
Do I need a reservation for Kotoku-in?
Kotoku-in says that a reservation is not required. Its admission hours vary by season, and entry ends 15 minutes before closing, so check the relevant closing time before you go. The official guide lists general admission separately from the ¥50 charge to enter the inside of the Great Buddha.
Is entry to the Great Buddha included in Kotoku-in’s admission price?
No: the listed charge for entering the Great Buddha’s interior is an additional ¥50. The listed general admission is ¥300, and the listed price for visitors aged six through twelve is ¥150. Confirm current information on Kotoku-in’s official site before visiting.
Is the Hakone Open-Air Museum open every day?
The museum says it is generally open year-round, including New Year, but severe weather such as a typhoon or heavy snow may lead to a temporary closure. Its usual listed hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. Check the museum’s current official information and FAQ before setting out.
Can I reserve parking at Hasedera, or park at Kotoku-in?
Hasedera lists ordinary-car parking at ¥350 per 30 minutes and says that the parking cannot be reserved. Kotoku-in says that it has no car parking. If you are driving, check these conditions before choosing a route or relying on either temple for parking.
