Charming Hase-dera

One of Kamakura Many Must-See Temples

Anyone who follows me on social media knows I am very much a fan of the Shonan area and especially Kamakura. I frequently visited this region over the summer months while continuing my quest to source content for this site as well as other social media channels. As one might expect, I was quite shocked to find yet another location that had exceeded my expectations. Known as Hase-dera, the temple can be found close to the shores of Sagami Bay and Yuigahama beach.

Hase-dera is most famous for its hydrangeas that bloom every May and June during Japan’s rainy season. However, due to their popularity, lines to enter the temple grounds often swell to wait times of up to two hours. This, coupled with the fact that Hase-dera is very much situated along the tourist track, has dissuaded me from venturing past the unremarkable temple gates until now. Yet, much like my experiences viewing Kamakura’s famous giant Buddha statue, I feel the crowds tend to diminish the temple’s aura of spirituality.

Honestly, I had written off the temple somewhere between seeing the busloads of Japanese and Chinese tourists pulling into Hase-dera’s parking lot and its location on the “normal” Kamakura itinerary. Needless to say, when I found myself drifting towards Hase-dera on a drizzly Sunday morning, I was rather surprised to discover what the temple’s simple exterior had been concealing all along. I highly recommend visiting Hase-dera, but again, try to avoid the midday crowds if possible.

How to Get There

Hase-dera is located in southwestern Kamakura and nestled seamlessly within the hills of the valley that encase the ancient capital. The easiest way to get to Kamakura is via the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo, Shimbashi, or Shinagawa stations. If you are not staying near the Yamanote loop line then I suggest you consult Jorudan to map out your best route to Kamakura. Once on JR’s Yokosuka Line, the trip is a 50 minute, one-shot journey into Kamakura. After arriving at Kamakura Station, visitors can opt to walk to Hase-dera or hop a ride on the charming vintage Enoden line from…