My favorite town so far in Japan is the former capital Kamakura, an idyllic ocean town a rather short 1,5 train-ride away from Tokyo. And not only because of the amazing vegan food the town has to offer – I am in love with its slow atmosphere, richness in nature and countless temples. Famous for its hydrangea, which happens to be my most beloved flower, it is a popular spot for flower fans during late May and early June.
In the end of May this year, I underwent a short solo day-trip to the ocean town to enjoy hydrangea at Meigetsuin and Hase-dera as well as delicious vegan delights.
This blog post is a snapshot of some hydrangea spots and vegan restaurants, and there are in fact many more. So, please see this as inspiration for your own trip but I recommend doing your own research about what you want to add to your travel list.
V = vegan; VG = vegetarian
Kita-Kamakura Area
Meigetsuin
Located a 10 minutes walk away from Kita-Kamakura Station, Meigetsuin seems to be one of the lesser known temples, nevertheless it was bustling with excited tourists and professional camera men taking lots of pictures of and with the hydrangea. And there are lots of hydrangea – thousands, in countless shapes and colors, one more stunning than the other.
What I found especially exciting was the fact that there even were hydrangea planted inside a small bamboo forest – something I had never seen before.
Meigetsuin was created as a sub-temple of the larger Zenkoji Temple founded by Hojo Tokimune (1251-1284), but it was closed at the beginning of the Meiji period. It is part of the Kenchō-ji branch of the Rinzai Sect.
Hours:
09:00 – 16:00
Admission:
500 yen
Address:
189 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0062
Website:
Ice Biyori (V)
ice cream, crêpes, monaka
5 min by foot from Kita-Kamakura Station
Vegan hydrangea sweets? Yes please!
I discovered the fully vegan ice cream and crepe shop Ice Biyori a long time ago via Instagram and always wanted to try one of their mouthwatering looking ice cream cones topped with chewy mochi and a fresh strawberry.
However, the seasonal hydrangea crêpe looked too beautiful to resist, so I guess I gotta go back another time to try the mochi-topped ice cream!
Besides those, they also offer traditional Japanese sweets called monaka, which is basically a flower-shaped cone filled with a thin layer of mochi and ice cream.
I love how the staff prepared everything freshly as the orders came in. But expect a few minutes of waiting time! Also, while it is possible to eat in, the seating is quite limited (2-3 people max), so please keep that in mind.
Price range:
520¥-1380¥
Hours:
Saturday, Sunday: 11:00 – 16:00 (check their Instagram as hours can change from month to month)
Closed on weekdays
Address:
511-2 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0062
Instagram:
Hase Area
Hase-dera
About 5 min by foot from Hase Station
My favorite Temple in Kamakura so far is Hase-dera because it has so many diverse and beautiful areas to offer all year round. Hase-dera is Kamakuras oldest temple and stands on Mount Kannon-zan, where its grounds feature a diverse array of flowers that bloom year-round, making it the perfect spot to visit any time. Moreover, the panoramic view from the elevated observation deck is renowned as one of Kamakura's most picturesque vistas.
During hydrangea season, you can marvel at a vast variety of spectacular hydrangea plants in all colors, shapes and sizes. I had no idea that his many kinds existed! At Hase-dera you can enjoy 40 different kinds of hydrangea, all in all round 2500 hydrangea plants.
I especially recommend checking out the Hydrangea Path which features an incredible ocean view along with beautiful hydrangeas. However, while it usually is included in the entrance fee, during hydrangea season a separate ticket for an additional 500 yen must be purchased near the paths entrance.
Did you know?
Legend has it that in about 1300 years ago, two Kannon statues were carved from a single sacred tree in Hatsuse, now part of Nara Prefecture. One statue was placed in the Hase-dera temple in Nara, while the other was cast into the ocean with a prayer for its reappearance to aid people somewhere else. After a journey across the waters lasting fifteen years, the statue finally came ashore in what is now Kanagawa Prefecture. In 736 AD, the Hase-dera temple in Kamakura was founded specifically to house this miraculous Kannon statue which is known as the “Eleven-headed Kannon” and 9.18 meters tall, therefore bing one of Japan's largest wooden Buddhist statues.
Hours:
July – March: 08:00 – 17:00 (last entry at 16:30)
April – June: 08:00 – 17:30 (last entry at 17:00)
Admission:
Adults: 400 yen
Children (age 6-11): 200 yen
Additional 500 yen for the hydrangea path
Address:
3 Chome-11-2 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016
Website:
Cafe Stand Blossom Kamakura (V)
Amazake, baked sweets, soft-serve
About 3 min by foot from Hase Station
This fully vegan café offers lots of baked goods like muffins, butter sandwiches with anko, monaka and cake. You an also enjoy soft-serve, smoothies, teas and lattes.
I personally tried the amazake soft serve as it was a really hot day. The ice cream was extremely creamy and had a distinct amazake taste which was different form regular soft-serve but yummy in its own way! It came with crunchy granola.
Price range:
480¥-980¥
Hours:
10:00 – 17:00
Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays
Address:
2 Chome-13-37 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016
Instagram:
Luna Burger (V)
Burgers, curry
About 5 min by foot from Hase Station
If you like burgers, you HAVE to try Luna Burger! I always wondered why their burgers are so popular and sold out immediately at the Tokyo Vegan Gourmet Festival but after trying them for myself, I now totally get it.
Menu:
The burger filled up to the brim with tasty ingredients and the patty was authentic meat-like. It came with crunchy chips on the side. Every bite was delightful and an explosion of flavors.
If you're lucky, you can also find their food truck in other cities, but definitely check out their restaurant when you are in Kamakura!
Price range:
430¥-1780¥
Hours:
Wednesday – Friday: 11:30 – 15:00
Saturday, Sunday: 11:30 – 18:00
Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays
Address:
2 Chome-17-23 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016
Instagram:
Amazake Stand (VG, V)
amazake
A must-try in Japan is amazake – a sweet, non-alcoholic traditional drink made from fermented rice. Packed with probiotics and other nutrients, it is a proper health food often enjoyed warm in winter.
Amazake Stand in Kamakura offers a wide range of unique flavors – from plain to matcha to chai and everything in-between. The drinks come with a whipped cream topping, but are fully vegan when ordered without the cream.
You can have the amazake hot or cold, making it the perfect snack in any weather.
Price range:
550¥-780¥
Hours:
10:00 – 18:00
Address:
1 Chome-8-10 Ogigayatsu, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0011
Website:
Check out my Kyoto Sightseeing x Vegan Food Guides
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