Two of the best-known temples in Kamakura are Kenchoji and Engakuji. Each possesses a long tradition of learning, and they both still actively train monks in the Zen sect of Buddhism. Kenchoji is famous for its garden, which is landscaped in the Zen style; one can lose all sense of time when gazing out upon the garden from the main hall. The dense growth of cedar trees around Engakuji, meanwhile, creates an air of peaceful seclusion from the outside world.

Another important place of worship is Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (site is Japnanese only), a large shrine set up in the center of the city by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura shogunate. Several sites of interest - including a lotus pond, treasure house, and ritual dance stage - are laid out spaciously in the precincts of this shrine. From the top of the steps leading up to the main building, visitors can get a magnificent view of the broad avenue extending 1.8 kilometers from the shrine's entrance straight to the coast.

Kamakura also has many smaller temples and shrines to see, and the ancient city is compact enough that visitors can enjoy viewing the different sites while getting around on foot.