Zaimokuza Beach

Time-honored sea-bathing spot with a history of more than 130 years. This seacoast is recognized as one of the best in the Shonan area, rivaling Yuigahama. It began to gain public attention after it was chosen as the setting for Soseki Natsume's ”Kokoro,” one of his later masterpieces. During sea-bathing season from July to August, the area draws large number of bathers for its shallowness and relatively mild waves. This makes the beach easily accessible for poor swimmers as well as small children. The beach is also a training ground for lifeguards. You can enjoy other marine activities here as well, such as surfing. Thanks to the high transparency of the ocean water, many varieties of fish and seashells are visible. You might even find the baby sardines used in Kamakura's specialties. When the sun sets, the view of Enoshima Island from the east edge of the coast is truly beautiful. In the evening, you can enjoy setting off fireworks here. An eight-minute Keihin-Kyuko bus ride from Kamakura Station on the Yokosuka Line; get off at Zaimokuza bus stop and walk about two minutes.