Kamakura with Chiikawa plushies: Hasedera’s autumn leaves, the Enoden and the Yuigahama sunset
Opening hours, fees and access checked on official sites on Nov 9, 2026.
This is episode 2 of Chiifan’s X series of Chiikawa plushies traveling around Japan’s autumn-leaf spots. Around Hase and Yuigahama in Kamakura, temple leaves and the sea are both within two Enoden stops. Kamakura has hilltop railings, crowded trains and windy beaches, all easy places to drop a plushie, so the basic rule is: take them out only for the picture, and put them straight back in the bag.
The plushie images on this page are AI-generated travel scenes that Chiifan made with San-Arrow’s product photos of the “Potetama” plushies as a reference. They are not photos taken at the places and may differ from how the places really look. © nagano / chiikawa committee
- Area
- Hase and Yuigahama, Kamakura, Kanagawa
- Hasedera
- Adults ¥400. Autumn night viewing Nov 21–Dec 6, 2026
- From Tokyo
- About 1 hour to Kamakura by JR, no transfer
- Enoden 1-day pass
- “Noriorikun”: adults ¥800, children ¥400
Hasedera’s Kaiko Terrace: autumn leaves and the sea in one shot
The sea spreads out beyond the railing here. Put your plushies on a flat spot on the inside of the railing and hold your phone a little low, so the red branches and the sea fill the top half of the picture.
- If one falls from the hilltop, you can’t go down to get it, so don’t put them on the railing.
- Hasedera has three small “Ryoen Jizo” statues, each a group of three standing close together. Look for them as you walk around and line your three plushies up next to them.
- Getting there: 5 min on foot from Hase Station (Enoden). Adults ¥400, elementary school children ¥200. Entry 8:00–16:30. The Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoku-in) is also near Hase Station.
Fallen leaves on the temple steps: get close
Once the leaves start to fall, sit your plushies on them and shoot close up for a picture that says “autumn” at a glance. Lower your phone to their face height and let the leaves behind go soft.
- The steps are a path for worshippers. Stay at the edge and make room as soon as someone comes.
On the Enoden: by the window, with the sea behind
Riding from Hase toward Fujisawa, the Enoden runs along the sea around Inamuragasaki and Shichirigahama. When the car is quiet, sit your plushies by the window for a travel shot with the sea behind.
- When the train is crowded, keep them in the bag, and don’t get other passengers in the frame.
- Kamakura to Hase is about 5 min, ¥200. The 1-day pass “Noriorikun” is ¥800 for adults.
Yuigahama in the evening: peeking out of the bag
Yuigahama is a beach within walking distance of Yuigahama Station (Enoden). Sunset is 16:35 on Nov 15 and around 16:30 in late November (National Astronomical Observatory, Yokohama), so going down to the beach after Hasedera works out just right.
- If you set them straight on the sand, it gets into their feet. Let them peek out of a tote bag instead, and they stay clean.
- Getting there: walk from Yuigahama Station (Enoden). Kamakura to Yuigahama is about 3 min, ¥200.
Hasedera’s autumn leaves and night viewing (Nov 21–Dec 6, 2026)
Hasedera’s autumn night viewing runs from Nov 21 (Sat) to Dec 6 (Sun), 2026, from sunset until the gate closes at 19:00. The fee is the same as in the daytime: adults ¥400.
- Regular hours
- Entry 8:00–16:30, closes 17:00. Adults ¥400, elementary school children ¥200
- Autumn night viewing
- Nov 21 (Sat) to Dec 6 (Sun), 2026. From sunset to 19:00 (gate), grounds close 19:30. Same fees
- From the Kaiko Terrace you can see Kamakura’s streets, Yuigahama and the Miura Peninsula, and on clear days even Izu Oshima island.
- The night viewing may be extended depending on the leaves. It goes ahead in rain but is canceled in stormy weather.
- Tripods and monopods can’t be used during the night viewing, so shoot your plushies handheld.
- You can check how crowded it is before you go on the VACAN crowd indicator linked from Hasedera’s site.
Getting there from Tokyo and Yokohama, and where to stay
From Tokyo, Shinjuku and Yokohama, JR goes straight to Kamakura Station with no transfer. From Kamakura, change to the Enoden for Hase and Yuigahama.
- From Tokyo Station
- JR Yokosuka Line, about 58 min, ¥1,040 (¥1,034 with an IC card)
- From Shinjuku
- Shonan-Shinjuku Line, about 1 h 3 min, ¥1,040 (¥1,034 with an IC card). Take a Yokosuka Line train such as one bound for Zushi
- From Yokohama
- JR Yokosuka Line, about 24 min, ¥440
- Enoden from Kamakura
- About 3 min to Yuigahama, about 5 min to Hase, ¥200 each
- For the night viewing and the morning sea
- Stay in the Shonan, Kamakura or Enoshima area
- To spend the evening in the city
- Stay in Yokohama (about 24 min to Kamakura by JR)
- If you hop on and off the Enoden a lot, the “Noriorikun” 1-day pass (adults ¥800, children ¥400) is handy. It is sold at every station’s ticket machine and on the EMot smartphone app.
- Times and fares are estimates from a route search for a 9:00 departure on Saturday, Nov 21.
- Ebisuya Kamakura rickshaws start in front of the third torii gate, from ¥10,000 for 2 people for 30 minutes.
If you have time: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and Dankazura
On the other side of Kamakura Station is Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, open 6:00–20:00 all year, 10 min on foot from JR Kamakura Station (East Exit) or Enoden Kamakura Station.
- Dankazura, the raised path down the middle of Wakamiya-oji, runs about 450 m from the second to the third torii gate.
- The Yanagihara pond in the shrine grounds is beautiful in autumn-leaf season.
- Chiikawa Mogumogu Honpo is expected to open a Kamakura store near Kamakura Station in December 2026. This comes from the operating company’s job listing; there is no official announcement yet.
The plushies in the series: Potetama Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi
The plushies in the images are San-Arrow’s “Potetama” (ぽてたまぬいぐるみ) Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi. The three are about 13–17 cm tall, so clothes and bags for 15 cm plushies fit them.
- Knit scarf
- A scarf for 15–20 cm plushies (8 colors with heart embroidery). It only wraps around the neck, so it fits most body shapes
- Clear mini tote pouch
- A wide pouch that holds two or three 15–20 cm plushies side by side, with a zip on top. You can take pictures without taking them out
- Shoulder bag with a window
- About 22 × 16 × 8.5 cm, with a clear front window and a cover sheet. For 15 cm and 20 cm plushies; strap 70–130 cm
- Miniature tea set
- A tray (about 6 × 4 cm), a teapot (about 3.5 cm wide) and four cups (about 1.5 cm). It is ceramic, so carry it in a small box
- The clothes and bags we used come from Japanese online shops on Rakuten, and many of those shops only ship within Japan, so we don’t link to them here. Use the sizes below when you look for similar items.
- Plush bodies differ in how firmly they are stuffed, so treat any size on a product page as a guide.
- With sand and sea wind in Kamakura, a bag that closes at the top is the safe choice.
Plan the trip: tours, kimono rental and travel essentials (KKday)
Tours, kimono rental and travel essentials you can book on KKday for a trip with your plushies. Check the price, what is included and the cancellation rules on each KKday page before you pay.
Kamakura & Enoshima day tour from Tokyo (Great Buddha, Enoden)
A guided day trip from Tokyo, including an Enoden ride
VASARA kimono rental (Kamakura, Kyoto, Tokyo)
Pick the branch for the city you visit on the booking page
Japan eSIM, unlimited data
For maps and showing QR tickets on your phone. Check that your phone supports eSIM
Frequently asked questions
When is Hasedera’s 2026 autumn night viewing?
Nov 21 to Dec 6, 2026, from sunset until the gate closes at 19:00. Adults ¥400. Tripods and monopods can’t be used.
How do I get to Kamakura from Tokyo?
Take the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station to Kamakura (about 58 min, no transfer), then the Enoden to Hase or Yuigahama.
Are the plushie pictures real photos?
No. They are AI-generated scenes from Chiifan’s X series, made with the official product photos as a reference.
Sources
Pages marked (Japanese) are only available in Japanese.