Forget cherry blossoms, get your camera out for the hydrangeas. The period between early June and mid-July is the best time to see Kamakura and its many sacred sites decorated with pops of blue, purple, and pink. With more than 50 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines scattered throughout the lush forests surrounding the town, it’s only natural that you come across some truly magical places to enjoy the Kamakura hydrangea season. Read on to find out which are the best spots for hydrangea viewing!
Rain Warning: Check the skies and come prepared for tsuyu season
Heads up for anyone unaccustomed to summer weather in Japan: it is damp, humid, and unpredictable! Pack a brolly and prepare yourself for rain if you’re thinking of spending the day outdoors to enjoy Kamakura’s hydrangea season.
Kamakura Hydrangea Viewing: Enchanting temples to visit in early summer
Engaku-ji (円覚寺) is one of the leading Zen temples in Eastern Japan. It was founded by Hōjō Tokimune in 1282, one year after successfully repelling a joint Mongolian-Korean invasion. The temple was built to honour the fallen soldiers of both sides of the war. Engaku-ji is located a very short distance away from Kita-Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line. The railway tracks actually cut across the formal entrance to the compound.
As the temple entrance is surrounded by many maple trees, it is a popular spot for autumn colours. In the summer months, it is a fantastic first stop for encountering blooming hydrangeas and impressive greenery.
Be sure to stop for tea at the secluded Annei (安寧) tearoom, located within the temple grounds. It is one hidden gem not to be missed!
At this little rest house, you can enjoy a refreshing glass of yuzu juice and a bowl of their special anmitsu. This dessert consists of green tea ice cream, rice flour dumplings, sweetened red beans, kanten jelly, and brown sugar syrup. Everything is beautifully presented, and the experience is made even better when you sit right in front of the gardens, lush with green and sparkling with rain. Having dessert at this well-hidden paradise will feel very zen.
Meigetsu-in (明月院) is a Rinzai Zen temple of the Kenchō-ji school. It is also famously known as the Hydrangea Temple due to the abundance of hydrangeas growing all throughout the temple grounds. During the rainy season, they bloom magnificently, attracting large crowds from all over Kanagawa and beyond.
Travel Directions: The journey from Tokyo to Kamakura
The small coastal town of Kamakura is located south of Tokyo in Kanagawa Prefecture. By train, it takes approximately 1 hour to get from either Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station to Kita-Kamakura Station. From Yokohama Station, it takes about 20 minutes. Once you get to Kita-Kamakura, you will find the many temples and sacred sites scattered around the area, most of them well-signed and easily accessible on foot.
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