Trip reports
Sustainable Eateries in Kamakura
Kamakura, a small seaside city in Kanagawa Prefecture, is beloved by tourists and residents alike for its beautifully preserved temples and shrines, as well as its relaxing beaches. Intermixed in the city’s main attractions are numerous eateries that span from chic to traditional. Given Kamakura’s focus on cultural preservation, it is not surprising that the city is also home to numerous sustainable eateries that maintain cultural values and support the environment. Listed below are three sustainable food spots to remember during your next trip to Kamakura.
If you are interested in crafting a day centered on these establishments, follow our proposed itinerary! Of course, you can also choose your favorite restaurants and incorporate them into your schedule as you please.
Trip summary:
- Elegant meals served on Kamakura-bori lacquerware at Kamakurabori Cafe guri.
- Relaxed beachside vibes with a focus on organic produce and hemp at Magokoro.
- Traditional aesthetics meet traditional cuisine and environmentally-conscious practices at Raitei.
Travel to first spot:
- From Tokyo Station, Kamakura Station is roughly a one-hour train ride via the Yokosuka Line.
- Kamakurabori Cafe guri is about a six-minute walk from Kamakura Station.
Kamakurabori Cafe guri
Just a few minutes walk from Kamakura Station, Kamakurabori Cafe guri (hereinafter, guri) is the perfect place to start your day in Kamakura as it is located on the shop-flanked streets that lead to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Since the cafe does not open until 11am, you can begin your morning with a visit to this cherished shrine and pop into a few boutiques along the way.
Sustainability is a core concept of guri. Not only does the cafe prioritize the use of seasonal and locally-sourced Kamakura ingredients, but it also serves its meals on Kamakura-bori laquerware—thus sharing and promoting the traditional Japanese craft. Kamakura-bori lacquerware originated in Kamakura during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) and is characterized by its bold patterns and unique carving techniques. The building in which the cafe is housed also features a Kamakura-bori lacquerware shop and museum.
Food-wise, guri offers vegan, vegetarian, seasonal fish, and meat dishes, allowing people with varying dietary restrictions to enjoy mealtime together. For the cafe’s seasonal Shojin Gozen lunch set, you must reserve it two days in advance for a minimum of two people. To reserve, you can either call (070-8977-5751; Japanese only) or send an email (info@cafeguri.jp). If you are craving some light cafe sweets, guri also serves delectable cakes and pudding that you can pair with your beverage of choice. Walk-ins (aside from the Shojin Gozen meal mentioned above) are okay!
The cafe’s minimalist interior truly allows the lacquerware’s beauty and carefully selected ingredients to shine.
Travel to next spot:
- From guri cafe, walk to Kamakura Station and take the Enoden Line to Hase Station. Then, walk about five minutes to Magokoro. The total travel time is 14 to 15 minutes.
- Alternatively, you can walk approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Magokoro Cafe Bar
After the elegance of Kamakura-bori lacquerware, head to the beach for bohemian vibes at Magokoro Cafe Bar. This cozy restaurant, located on the second floor, welcomes guests with its chill music, predominantly wooden design, and subtle pops of color. Through its large windows you can admire elevated views of the ocean with surfers and windsurfers among the waves.
Magokoro is a farm-to-table restaurant that prioritizes the use of organic ingredients—most notably, hemp. The eatery has its own farm, located about 10 minutes away from the restaurant, where it grows hemp and other produce. To supplement its harvest, Magokoro purchases ingredients from nearby organic farmers. Its health-conscious menu promotes body-friendly ingredients filled with nutrients.
Magokoro’s extensive menu clearly marks which dishes contain fish and which ones are vegan and/or gluten free. You can choose from a variety of creative eats, such as hemp vegetable curry, hemp tempeh fry, and fried soy meat with a homemade sweet vinegar sauce. However, its most popular and recommended dish is the Magokoro Set Meal, which is vegan and gluten free. The nourishing set includes enzyme brown rice, three side dishes that change daily, soup, and lightly fried tofu “meat” and tempeh. The meal is filling and offers an array of enticing textures and flavors. For a beverage, we recommend the hemp amazake, which is a sweet, non-alcoholic drink made from fermented hemp seeds, koji, and rice.
Please note that the lunch menu is only available from 11:30am–2:30pm. Before you head to your next spot, be sure to check out Magokoro’s small assortment of unique items, including hemp seeds, hemp beer, sun-dried sea salt, and naturally dyed clothing.
Travel to next spot:
- From Magokoro, walk to Kaigantori (海岸通り) bus stop and take a local bus to Takasago bus stop. Then, walk about one minute to Raitei. The total travel time is about 20 minutes.
- Raitei also offers pickup services on weekends and holidays from Kamakura and Nishi-Kamakura Station. Please complete an online form in advance to request this service.
Raitei
Located outside Kamakura’s major attractions, Raitei is a hidden gem that specializes in kaiseki (traditional multi-course Japanese meals) and soba noodles. The restaurant’s entrance gate and the building itself are designated as National Tangible Cultural Properties and serve as stunning examples of eras past. The main building originally served as a silk raising farmer’s residence and features a captivating blend of Japanese and Western aesthetics. The premises are also home to a 50,000-square meter Japanese garden. The landscaped greenery is decorated with stone Buddhist images, pagodas, and a tea room. On clear days, you can see Lake Sagami and Mt. Fuji from the restaurant’s wide windows. By preserving and repurposing the building as a restaurant, Raitei exemplifies the values of cultural sustainability.
The restaurant’s main building is divided into two sections. The first floor serves soba in a dining area crafted from fallen pine trees, and the second floor offers kaiseki cuisine in three Japanese-style rooms. Outside, Raitei also has a Japanese sweets shop called Roan.
Since its 50,000-square meter garden is mostly forest, Raitei is recognized as the restaurant that absorbs the most carbon dioxide in Kamakura.
Raitei also strives to reduce its carbon footprint and is constantly looking for innovative ways to use its available resources. For example, Raitei grows its own bamboo shoots, dyes its staffs’ aprons naturally with hydrangeas, makes plum juice, liqueur, and desserts from homegrown plums, crafts dishes with homegrown bamboo, and even transforms leftover soba into a fried, chocolate-covered dessert to reduce food waste.
The beautifully-plated kaiseki meals require advanced reservations and showcase a delicious array of fresh, seasonal ingredients. As for the soba, the restaurant offers numerous cold and hot options. For the full experience, we recommend the soba teishoku (lunch set). This set highlights traditional flavors, including soba, tempura, side dishes, and a seasonal dessert.
As you leisurely enjoy the meal, you can admire the grand garden before you. Both your eyes and stomach will leave content.
Travel back to Kamakura Station:
- Walk two minutes to Takasago bus stop, and take a local bus to Kamakura Station. The total travel time is about 25 minutes.
- Raitei also has a drop-off service on weekends and holidays to Kamakura and Nishi-Kamakura Station. Please complete an online form in advance to request this service.
With its rich cultural heritage and sustainable eateries, Kamakura is a must-visit. As you are discovering its wonders, be sure to check out its equally memorable restaurants as well.
