In this article, we introduce 10 highly popular street food spots on Komachi Street. From classic local specialties to sweets and souvenirs, here is everything you need to make your Kamakura walk even more enjoyable.

Street Foods (Savory Items)

1. Gokujou Kamakura Menchi Katsu | The Classic Must-Try on Komachi Street! Menchi Katsu with Hayama Beef

One of the very first foods people mention when talking about Komachi Street is “Gokujou Kamakura Menchi Katsu.” Their menchi katsu is made with rare Hayama beef from the Miura Peninsula. Wrapped in crispy fresh breadcrumbs, each bite releases juicy meat juices from inside. It also contains melty mozzarella cheese, creating a perfect combination of rich meat flavor and creamy cheese.

Taking a bite of it fresh and hot is truly one of the highlights of eating your way through Kamakura. There is often a line, but service moves quickly, so the wait is usually not too long. Since they stop selling when sold out, it is best to visit earlier in the day.

2. Giraffa | Curry Bread Specialty Shop with 30 Spices

Since opening in December 2020, Giraffa, a specialty curry bread shop, has quickly become one of Komachi Street’s most popular spots. It is said that they sometimes sell more than 4,000 pieces in a single day. Their curry filling is made with a unique blend of 30 different spices, and the melted cheese inside makes it even more irresistible.

The outside is crispy and golden, while the inside is filled with spicy yet mellow curry and gooey cheese. One bite is enough to make you feel the line was worth it. Their dedication is clear: they offer only one food item—curry bread—so all their energy goes into perfecting it.

3. Inoue Kamaboko-ten | Freshly Fried Kamakura-Style Fish Cake

The long-established Inoue Kamaboko-ten, whose main shop is located near Kamakura Station, is one of Kamakura’s best-known stores for handmade kamaboko (fish cake). Their most popular street food item is “Koban-age”, served hot and freshly fried at the storefront. This crispy snack is made from fish paste with a pleasantly springy texture, and it tastes great either plain or with a little soy sauce.

They also offer more unique varieties mixed with octopus or squid, as well as seasonal flavors. Taking a bite while it is still hot lets the umami of the seafood spread through your mouth. Be sure to try this local Kamakura seafood snack.

Shonan Specialty: Whitebait Dishes

4. Hannari Inari | Unique Inari Sushi with Shonan Whitebait

When visiting Kamakura, you should not miss shirasu (whitebait), one of Shonan’s best-known seafood specialties. Hannari Inari specializes in creative inari sushi and stick-style foods made with whitebait. Their signature menu item, the “Steamed Whitebait Mille-Feuille,” is a luxurious roll-style inari sushi topped with a generous amount of whitebait. It is so popular that more than 1,000 servings can be sold on weekends.

Their easy-to-carry items, such as the “Hannari Stick Whitebait Roll” (460 yen) and the fluffy “Shonan Whitebait Tamagoyaki” (380 yen), are also popular. Because they are served in convenient stick form, they are perfect for enjoying on a bench nearby.

Sweets & Japanese Confectionery

5. Kamakura Chacha | Premium Matcha Gelato with Adjustable Richness

Located right near the entrance of Komachi Street, Kamakura Chacha is a specialty shop for gelato and pudding where you can choose from five different levels of matcha richness. They use top-quality matcha from Shizuoka, made from tea leaves that have won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award for three consecutive years.

From the mild Level 1 to the intensely rich MAX level, the fun lies in choosing the strength that suits your taste. Their “Matcha Matcha Soft Serve Premium” (690 yen) is also highly photogenic, generously covered in matcha powder. If you love matcha, do not hesitate to try the strongest level. The darker the green, the more directly you can taste the rich umami and bitterness of premium matcha.

6. Sakura no Yumemiya | Colorful and Beautiful Dango

Located midway along Komachi Street, Sakura no Yumemiya is a Japanese sweets specialty shop offering around 20 varieties of dango at all times. The colorful skewers lined up neatly in the display case are exciting to look at even before you choose one.

Their most popular menu item is the “Four-Color Dango,” which lets you enjoy four flavors on a single skewer: sakura bean paste, zunda bean paste, chestnut bean paste, and matcha bean paste. In addition to classics such as mitarashi, smooth red bean paste, and isobe (wrapped in seaweed), they also offer seasonal flavors like strawberry bean paste and honey lemon bean paste. At around 200 yen per skewer, the prices are reasonable too. Please note that they accept cash only, so it is a good idea to prepare coins in advance.

7. Coquelicot Crepe Shop | A Long-Established Crepe Favorite Loved for Over 50 Years

Founded in 1972, Coquelicot is a famous crepe shop in Kamakura with over half a century of history. They offer more than 50 menu items, and each crepe is freshly cooked on a dedicated griddle after you order.

Their signature item is the “Lemon Sugar” crepe. It is a simple crepe made with freshly squeezed lemon, but the chewy crepe and refreshing citrus acidity create a perfect balance. Other options such as fresh cream matcha (500 yen) and chocolate banana are also irresistible for anyone who loves sweets. Be sure to try this classic flavor that has been loved by Kamakura locals for generations.

8. Kamakura Ichibanya | 50-Yen Rice Crackers & Croissant Taiyaki Freshly Made in Front of You

Kamakura Ichibanya is known for its freshly grilled handmade rice crackers. The fragrant smell of crackers being grilled right in front of the shop is enough to make you stop in your tracks. Best of all, the freshly made crackers cost only 50 yen each. Their crisp texture and savory soy sauce flavor are incredibly addictive.

Another popular item here is the croissant taiyaki (350–400 yen). Made with flaky croissant dough, this taiyaki comes with fillings such as whitebait, custard, red bean paste, and apple. It offers a different experience from ordinary taiyaki, with a crisp and layered texture.

9. Tomoya | Cute Daibutsu-Shaped Cakes Inspired by Kamakura’s Great Buddha

Tomoya is famous for its adorable “Daibutsu-sama-yaki”—cakes shaped like the Great Buddha of Kamakura. These fluffy cakes are filled with a variety of sweet and savory fillings, making them a very Kamakura-style snack that is both charming and delicious. The six different fillings each come with a lucky theme such as health, popularity, wealth, beauty, career, and love.

In addition to classic fillings like sweet red bean paste and custard cream, they also offer unique choices such as purple sweet potato paste, red bean and cream cheese, blueberry cream cheese, and even thick-cut cheese bacon. This sweet has been featured on TV programs and is highly photogenic, making it perfect for social media and travel photos.

Kamakura’s Classic Souvenir

10. Toshimaya | The Famous “Hato Sabure” Cookie Loved Since the Meiji Era

Toshimaya is the long-established confectionery shop that created Hato Sabure, Kamakura’s most famous souvenir. Its main store stands near Kamakura Station and has been loved for more than 100 years since the Meiji era. Shaped like a dove, the sacred bird of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, these butter-rich cookies are known for their crisp and satisfying texture.

They come in a wide range of box sizes, from 7-piece packs (864 yen) to larger gift boxes, and because each cookie is individually wrapped, they are perfect for sharing as souvenirs. In addition to Hato Sabure, the main store also sells seasonal Japanese sweets and elegant wagashi. If you visit Kamakura, make sure to stop by the main store near the station before heading home.

Tips for Enjoying Street Food on Komachi Street

How to Get to Kamakura

The easiest way to reach Kamakura is by train from Tokyo and nearby major cities. Roads in Kamakura are often heavily congested, so public transportation is highly recommended over driving.

MAP

Conclusion

Kamakura’s Komachi Street is one of Japan’s best street food destinations, with around 250 shops packed into a street of just 360 meters. From Hayama beef menchi katsu to spicy curry bread, traditional kamaboko, rich matcha gelato, colorful dango, and Shonan’s famous whitebait dishes, there is an incredible variety of food waiting for you.

With easy access—about one hour from Tokyo and only around 25 minutes from Yokohama—it is an ideal destination for a day trip. Pair your food walk with a visit to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine or the Great Buddha of Kamakura, and enjoy discovering your favorite Kamakura flavors while respecting local street food etiquette.

When the waterfront plants are illuminated at night, the scenery feels like a scene from a cyberpunk movie—pipes, towers, and flames glowing in the darkness.

That’s exactly why the Kawasaki Factory Night View Cruise and the LOVOT (Labot) cafe experience have been gaining attention among international visitors.

One is an awe-inspiring industrial nightscape you can enjoy from the water, and the other is a next-generation “healing robot” encounter that’s surprisingly heartwarming.

In this article, you’ll get a special one-day idea to experience a uniquely “near-future Japan”—without leaving the Tokyo area.

What Is the Kawasaki Factory Night View Cruise?

The Kawasaki Factory Night View Cruise is a night tour where you ride a sightseeing boat or a traditional-style boat and admire the illuminated industrial complexes lined along the canals—up close.

From the water, you can explore major plant zones in the Keihin industrial area, including Shiohama, Chidori-cho, and Minamiwatarida.

Because the cruise typically departs around dusk and continues into full night, you can enjoy the dramatic transition—sky colors fading from blue to deep black while factory lights grow brighter and more intense.

Compared with viewing from a land-based spot, a boat gives you a wider, more cinematic angle: reflections on the water, changing distances, and the feeling of “moving through” the nightscape.

It’s also a great choice for first-time visitors, since many tours include guidance and an easy meeting process from the Kawasaki Station area.

Highlights

Massive smokestacks, complex networks of pipes, and flare stacks burning with real flames—seen from the deck at close range.

Plants illuminated in gold, white, and red create a powerful, almost otherworldly atmosphere that looks even better in motion than in still photos.

Many travelers love this cruise for photography because you can capture strong compositions without a tripod—especially when you time shots with the boat’s slow approach and the shimmering reflections on the water.

Some tours also provide commentary, which adds depth beyond “beautiful lights”: you’ll learn why these facilities were built here, how canals support logistics, and how the industrial landscape shaped Kawasaki’s identity.

If you enjoy sci-fi aesthetics, game-like cityscapes, or “hidden Tokyo-area experiences,” this is one of the most memorable night activities you can do near the capital.

What Is the LOVOT Cafe?

LOVOT (Labot) is a home communication robot created with a simple concept: “born to be loved.”

It’s warm when you hold it, reacts when you gently pet it, and behaves as if it wants to stay close to you—making the experience surprisingly emotional and relaxing.

At LOVOT CAFE inside “Lazona Kawasaki Plaza,” a large shopping complex directly connected to Kawasaki Station, you can enjoy food and drinks while interacting with LOVOTs.

For many visitors, it feels like a uniquely Japanese blend of technology and kindness: not a “robot show,” but a calm, cozy space where you naturally smile as the robot responds to you.

What You Can Experience

Your stay is about 70 minutes.

You can hold the robot, take photos, and even give it a name—turning the visit into a personal, hands-on experience rather than just watching.

The menu is also part of the fun, featuring cute items inspired by the robot’s face and design, which makes it perfect for social media photos.

It’s an easy activity for families, couples, and solo travelers—especially if you want a light, indoor experience between sightseeing spots.

Recommended One-Day Model Plan

Spend the afternoon at Lazona Kawasaki Plaza for shopping and the LOVOT cafe.

Then, join the factory night view cruise in the evening.

Kawasaki Station is about 20 minutes from Tokyo Station.

With easy access and two very different experiences in one day, this plan is ideal for weekend trips as well.

Conclusion

In Kawasaki, you can enjoy two contrasting highlights in the same area: an epic industrial nightscape and a next-generation robot experience.

It’s a perfect spot for travelers who want something different from typical Tokyo sightseeing—without going far.

On your next trip to Japan, consider adding Kawasaki to your itinerary for a memorable “near-future Japan” day.

It is a mysterious town, where there is a historical aspect that the Yokohama port opened during the late Edo period and also there is an exotic mood, such as Chinatown.

Also, on the other hand, it also has an aspect as the center city of Keihin Industrial area, and moreover it is a commuter town of Tokyo.

There are various aspects in Yokohama and yet it is spreading its charms to multiple directions.

So this time, Let me introduce to the top 10 popular sightseeing spots from a ranking, titled “[Exotic] Want-to-go sightseeing places in Yokohama [mood]”.

The ranking is a result of the survey with 11,613 men/women of the ages from teens to sixties was conducted by a ranking site called “Rankingoo!” in Japan

10th: Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall

image by www.ana-cooljapan.com

To begin with, Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall is at the 10th rank.

It is a historical construction, located in Kannai area of Naka Ward, Yokohama City, and is designated as the National important cultural treasure.

It is built in 1917 as a part of the memorial project of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Yokohama port in 1909, but it was completely burned during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.

The original construction was rebuilt in 1927, and at the same time when the dome part was rebuilt in 1989, the hall has been designated as the National important cultural treasure.

The hall is still used as a public hall of Naka ward, Yokohama City, and the clock tower of about 36 m height is loved as a nickname of “Jack’s tower”.

It is the one of “ Yokohama Three Towers”, including the main building of Kanagawa Prefecture hall (King’s tower) and the main building of Yokohama Customs (Queen’s tower).

9th: Yokohama Port Osanbashi (a large pier)

image by japan-highlightstravel.com

Yokohama Port Osanbashi at the 9th rank is one of the largest terminal for large cruise ships in Japan.

Its history is old and a steel pier, a predecessor of Osanbashi, was built in 1894.

After that, it was damaged in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and was confiscated by the US army after the Second World War, and finally completed today’s Osanbashi in 2002.

Among other places for couples in Yokohama, here is particularly recommended.

An open to public space known by its nickname as “Kujira no senaka” (Whale’s back) on the rooftop of Osanbashi is free admission, and The sightscape from there is splendid and now it became one of the major sightseeing spots in Yokohama.

8th: Sankeien Garden

image by www.tokyoweekender.com

“Sankeien Garden” at the 8th rank is a garden located in Naka Ward, Yokohama City.

It was landscaped by Tomitaro Hara, a business person as well as a master of tea ceremony, in 1906.

There are 17 buildings in the garden, including 12 buildings in 10 National important cultural treasures, and 3 buildings designated as a Yokohama City tangible cultural building.

There are many other  historical buildings and also there are about 600 plum trees, including white plum blossoms, reddish pink plum blossoms, reclining dragon plum blossoms, and green sepal plum blossoms.

Also, there is a cherry blossom tunnel continuing for about 500 m.

It is a popular spot for plum and cherry blossoms in the city of Yokohama.

7th: Yokohama Cosmo World

image by rugby.japantoday.com

“Yokohama Cosmo World” at the 7th rank is an admission free urban playground in Minato-mirai area.

It is divided into 3 zones, namely the wonder amusement zone with the world’s largest class clock shaped ferris wheel “Cosmo Clock 21”, the Burano street zone designed with an image of colorful townscape of seaside in Burano island in Italy, and the kids carnival zone for kids.

The “Cosmo Clock 21” is a very big ferris wheel registered in the Guiness book and it also is the symbol of the playground.

When at night, the inside of the ground will beautifully be illuminated with the Cosmo Clock 21 as its center.

6th: Yokohama Motomachi Shopping Street

image by www.ambassadors-japan.com/

“Yokohama Motomachi Shopping Street” at the 6th place is one of the shopping streets representing Yokohama.

Its history is old.

It is said that it was flourished as a shopping street for foreigners around the Meiji Restoration.

Now it has become a fashionable area representing Yokohama, while long standing historical stores are lined up on the main street.

The street is full of a bit different elegance from that on other streets.

The street is famous as a street where adults can entertain shopping such as gourmet and fashion.

5th: Yamashita Park

image by commons.wikimedia.org

“Yamashita Park” at the 5th rank is also a place for couples representing the Yokohama Minato-Mirai area.

The park was made reclaimed a mountain of rubbles of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and there are numbers of monuments, such as “a statue of a pretty girl with red shoes” and “a monument of a song of Seagulls the Sailormen”.

And the park is also famous for roses, and is enjoyable throughout of a year.

Facing the sea, the spacious park is not only a sightseeing spot just as an image of the port town Yokohama, but also a place of relief for a city resident.

It is said that it was a famous spot for “hitting on spot” before, and there was an answer during the survey, saying that  “I used to go there before, so I would like to go back again to be hit on.”

This is an interesting history side for Japanese.

4th: Landmark Tower

image by www.thousandwonders.net

“Landmark Tower” at the 4th rank is the skyscraper as the center of Yokohama Minato-Mirai 21, and it is a complex comprised of offices, a hotel and a shopping mall.

Even if you have not visited to Yokohama yet, you might have seen the posture of building standing straight on the sea side on the Internet.

The building is of 272 m height from the ground, and there is the observation deck “Sky Garden” on the 69th floor, which is the second highest in Japan.

The overlook from the Sky Garden is splendid, when on a sunny day, you can view Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, and also Mt Fuji.

A beauty of the nightscape is also fascinating.

3rd: Cupnoodles Museum

image by favy-jp.com

The official name of “Cupnoodles Museum” at the 3rd rank is “Momofuku Ando Invention Memorial Hall – Yokohama”.

For celebration of the 100th anniversary of Momofuku Ando’s birth, who is an inventor of instant noodles and a founder of Nissin Foods, and for commemoration of the 40th anniversary of “Cupnoodles” invention, which is the world’s first instant noodle in a cup, the museum was opened on September 17, 2011.

It is a museum of an instant noodles, but it is not just a place to introduce to noodles.

The experience attraction that you can make a chicken noodle and a cupnoodle of your own is also popular.

2nd: Red Brick Warehouse

image by www.youcojapan.com

“Red brick warehouse” at the 2nd rank is historical constructions on the Yokohama port.

Built by the Meiji government as customs bonded warehouse, it has been renovated in 2002.

The number 1 building became an exhibition space and a hall for cultural activity, and the number 2 became a commercial building.

Also the area around has been developed as the red brick park with a square and a park.

In 2010, it received the award of excellence from “UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation” first in Japan.

The inside of the number 1 building is a hall and there play various concerts and plays, and there are restaurants and many shops for accessories and particular sundry goods in the number 2 building.

It is convenient for buying souvenirs.

1st: Yokohama Chinatown

image by travel.gaijinpot.com

“Yokohama Chinatown”, the largest in Japan as well as in East Asia, is selected as the 1st rank.

More than 500 stores are gathered in an area of about 500 square meter.

It is popular of course for the authentic Chinese dish and eating around gourmet that you will enjoy, and also is popular as the street with full of exotic moods created by 10 gates, such as Zenrin-Mon gate.

There are many location shootings for dramas and movies in Yokohama, and you cannot fully enjoy its attractions by just one time visit.

Yokohama is a town with full of attractions that make you feel like going there again and again.

Please try enjoying going there repeatedly.