It's absolutely a hidden gem in Kamakura. Most tourist enjoy other places nearby that are more famous and touristic, so this shrine never gets crowded in a normal weekend for all as I know(I don't know what happens on special holidays like New Year's Day though). The place offers an interesting mixture of a traditional Japanese scenery and the Enoden railway, the green train that rumbles right in front of the shrine’s entrance. The way the train tracks intersect with the sacred grounds is nothing short of magical.
What makes it so special is the dramatic contrast between the old and the new. You can be standing under the quiet shade of a centuries-old tree, surrounded by stone lanterns, and suddenly the crossing bars drop, the warning bells begin to chime, and the vintage retro-green train cuts right across the main approach, just inches from the torii gate.
If you time your visit between late May and June, the experience gets even better. The sides of the tracks burst into vibrant shades of blue, purple, and pink hydrangeas (ajisai), framing the passing train perfectly.
A Few Helpful Tips Before You Go:
- Getting There: It’s a peaceful 5-to-10-minute walk from Hase Station on the Enoden Line. You can easily combine it with a trip to see the famous Great Buddha at Kotoku-in nearby.
- Camera Etiquette: Because it has become a favorite spot for railway enthusiasts, the shrine has strict photography rules inside the inner grounds to maintain its sacred atmosphere. Respect the signs, stay behind the safety lines near the tracks, and capture your photos from the designated public areas by the crossing.
- The "Other World" Shot: If you stand near the approach and wait for the train to pass, you can capture a brilliant shot where the top of the Enoden fills the frame of the torii gate, making it look like a gateway to another era.
It’s the absolute perfect stop if you want to skip the massive crowds at the bigger temples and just soak in that classic, nostalgic Shonan coast atmosphere.
This shrine prohibits photography and please be aware that you need to walk for quite a distance to reach it.
This shrine is famous for its tram related Gokuin and its quiet nature environments
I visited the shrine in October of Reiwa 6 . The atmosphere was lovely, and the colors were beautiful. Photography was prohibited, so I didn't take any pictures. However, what ruined my experience was that I bought a goshuincho and two different goshuin . The price on the menu was a little over 2,000 yen, but the staff charged me over 4,000 yen. I tried to communicate in English, but they didn't respond at all, and I ended up paying an extra 2,000 yen. Today, I found the goshuincho in the bookshelf and remembered this incident, so I'm writing this review in the comments section. I hope other worshippers and tourists will be aware of similar issues.
The shrine is small but is famous because you can see the tram emerge out of the tunnel from here. But not much else to do. I bought a goshuincho and got a goshuin from here. So that can be done as well.
Great place to take picture of the tram! Seeing it go through the tunnel. It would be more beautiful during spring. It's a quiet spot to take pictures as there are rarely tourists. Mainly locals crossing street.
