Delightful Kamakura souvenirs to receive in 2023
April 2023 Seasonal up date : 2
For this weekend’s outing, let’s head to Kamakura. Explore famous landmarks, enjoy meals, and connect with nature. You can relax in stylish cafes or savor elegant Japanese sweets with matcha. While every aspect of sightseeing is enjoyable, deciding on souvenirs as you leave can be daunting. So, I’ve curated a selection of affordable but thoughtful souvenirs for 2023 that go beyond the ordinary. Hopefully, this will help you avoid souvenir dilemmas and make the most of your day in Kamakura.
Contents
- 1 1. Maison de lulu , A petit gateau starting from around 100 yen per piece.
- 2 2.Kosuzu‘s Warabi Mochi priced at 864 yen is purchased at CIAL near the station on the way home.
- 3 3.Sweets with a long shelf life. Mameya‘s bean sweets range from 200 to 500 yen per bag.
- 4 4.Two servings of Panna Cotta from PANNA FACTORY would surely make a delightful souvenir.
- 5 5.Various sizes of Kugelhopf cakes at Patisserie Kouglapin
- 6 6.Nagashimaya’s sliced sansho pepper is a fragrant confectionery with a price around 800 yen.
- 7 7. “Mikazukidou Kasen” offers seasonal wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) for about 1,000 yen for three pieces.
- 8 8.The pigeon-shaped sablé cookies from Toyoshimaya Main Store are purchased in paper packaging.”
1. Maison de lulu , A petit gateau starting from around 100 yen per piece.
Kamakura’s western exit is a popular area among locals, with essential amenities like the city hall and Kamakura’s favored Kii-Kanaya store. Recently, Onari Street has gained attention for its growing number of notable shops and increasing foot traffic.
Located midway along Onari Street, branching off towards Wakamiya-Oji, Maison de Lurie specializes in petit gateaux. Their baked goods, resembling canelés in size, start from around 100 yen each and can be packed in gift boxes containing several pieces, making them perfect souvenirs. They stay fresh for several days.
They also offer small cream puffs and cakes made with fresh cream, ideal for enjoying at home.
A perfect size for when you just want a small treat.
Due to recent inflation, prices have reportedly risen to over 100 yen. Still affordable though!
小さいけれど、オープンな入りやすい店内。
Simple, bite-sized sweets. A must-repeat!
Address:
2-9-1-A Onarimachi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa 248-0012, Japan
Phone:
0467-81-5901
Business Hours:
Irregular, open from 11:00 am
2.Kosuzu‘s Warabi Mochi priced at 864 yen is purchased at CIAL near the station on the way home.
2 to 3 servings are enough to be as thick as a paperback book, making it easy to carry multiple pieces.
The exquisite chewy warabi mochi is a staple souvenir of Kamakura.
Kosuzu’s warabi mochi is absolutely delicious and a beloved classic sweet treat. Now, there’s no need to rush between shops to find it anymore. You can buy it at CIAL, the souvenir shop cluster at Kamakura Station. It’s fantastic for those moments when you only have 10 minutes left before leaving! I’ve relied on this option countless times. The compact, sturdy box fits neatly into a regular bag with 3-4 pieces. Plus, it keeps well for 2-3 days at room temperature and about a week in the fridge. While CIAL offers other great souvenirs, be careful not to get distracted when time is short.
The packaging design is also excellent. I love its minimalist simplicity, which strikes a perfect balance.
Straight ahead from the entrance until the end, Koju-suzu will be on your right-hand side at the end.
Address:
1-1 Komachi, Kamakura-shi,
Kanagawa 248-0006,
Japan
Phone:
0467-61-2597
Business Hours:
9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Weekends)
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Weekdays)
3.Sweets with a long shelf life. Mameya‘s bean sweets range from 200 to 500 yen per bag.
The colors are vivid. There are also simple beans themselves.
This store is also available at CIAL, conveniently located near Komachi-dori with a great selection, making the Komachi-dori store highly recommended.
And… though tastes may vary, I still want to mention: The fruit-flavored beans are delicious. Especially the grape and berry flavors are not only tasty but also visually appealing, with excellent cost performance. I sometimes buy them for myself.
Address:
1-5-38 Yukinoshita, Kamakura-shi,
Kanagawa 248-0005, Japan
Phone:
0120-39-5402
Business Hours:
Weekdays: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Weekends and Holidays: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Open every day
4.Two servings of Panna Cotta from PANNA FACTORY would surely make a delightful souvenir.
A rich and creamy Panna Cotta. Eating one provides a satisfying feeling. (Updated as of 2024, the price has increased slightly, now exceeding 1000 yen.)
A Panna Cotta specialty shop near Hase and the Great Buddha in Kamakura. Their product lineup consists exclusively of Panna Cotta, making it a uniquely refreshing option. The Panna Cotta here is quite delicious.
When visiting Hase solo, buying a box of two for the family waiting at home is sure to bring them much joy.
The compact box of two is just the right size for carrying around. It’s recommended for when you’d like to give a souvenir that can be enjoyed on the same day.
Address:
3-1-16 Hase, Kamakura-shi,
Kanagawa 248-0016, Japan
Phone:
0467-39-6378
Business Hours:
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on Mondays
5.Various sizes of Kugelhopf cakes at Patisserie Kouglapin
A non-distinctive yet pleasantly sweet and delicious Kugelhopf. Prices vary depending on the size, with smaller ones costing around 400 yen.
Patisserie Kuglapan, located on the road heading from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine towards Niigata, is known for its delicious Kugelhopf cakes available year-round, as the name suggests.
With a texture reminiscent of brioche but sweet like a baked pastry, Kugelhopf from here makes for a perfect snack at home. The whole round shape and substantial volume also make it a well-received gift.
As Christmas approaches, the shop also offers small Stollen, perfect for souvenirs, adding to the variety of sweets available.
Specialty cakes also come in the form of Kugelhopf. The refreshing flavor of orange is delightful. Ordering cake at a café and having a slice of Kugelhopf on the side is a delightful addition.
Entering the “Lapin” part of the shop’s name, which means “rabbit” in French, feels like stepping into “Kugurapan” when you think about it in a bag. It’s somehow heartwarming.
Address:
3-6-12 Komachi, Kamakura-shi,
Kanagawa 248-0006,
Japan
Phone:
0467-84-9377
Business Hours:
Shop: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Cafe: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
6.Nagashimaya’s sliced sansho pepper is a fragrant confectionery with a price around 800 yen.
結構ボリュームがあって、２〜３人に十分な量。
“Nagashimaya,” a longstanding establishment dating back to the Taisho era, is located just to the right upon entering Komachi-dori from Kamakura Station.
A popular auspicious confection here is the “Kiriyama-zansho,” a treat infused with the pungent flavor of sansho pepper. Sansho pepper is known for its warming properties, and Kiriyama-zansho is traditionally enjoyed during New Year’s celebrations, although it is available year-round at this shop.
The confection has a chewy texture reminiscent of uirō, and its sophisticated flavor, beloved by sansho enthusiasts, embodies a nostalgic taste of the past.
Above all, the charmingly old-fashioned packaging adds a distinctive touch to Kamakura souvenirs. It is recommended to consume within two days from the day of purchase.
Address:
1-5-8 Komachi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa 248-0006, Japan
Phone:
0467-22-1369
7. “Mikazukidou Kasen” offers seasonal wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) for about 1,000 yen for three pieces.
I’m glad you enjoy sweets that express the seasons so beautifully. These are last year’s autumn foliage-themed sweets.
Near Kenchoji Temple in Kitakamakura, there’s a famous Japanese confectionery shop known for its dorayaki as well.
Do you like Japanese sweets? It definitely makes you feel uplifted when you have them, right? If you were given such sweets as a souvenir from Kamakura, it would feel special somehow.
A box of three pieces fits compactly into your bag. Even if you end up packing various other things along the way, it’s okay.
Perhaps during your long walk around Kamakura’s northern sightseeing spots, a compact yet elegant souvenir like this would also make the giver happy.
Address:
133-11 Yamanouchi, Kamakura-shi,
Kanagawa 247-0062,
Japan
Phone:
0467-22-8580
Business Hours:
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Irregular holidays
Parking:
3 spaces
The dove-shaped sablé cookies at Toyoshimaya have a subtle buttery flavor that gently wafts through. (Updated as of 2024, the price has increased slightly, with a pack of 8 now over 1,000 yen.)
It’s amazing how many people buy the dove-shaped sablé cookies at Toyoshimaya. Even I find myself purchasing them often for gatherings where many people are present. The cookies are exceptionally well-made, offering a comforting and delicious taste that stands out. The price and design are also excellent.
While the yellow tin packaging is nice, it can be inconvenient to carry around. That’s why I think the cookies look better in a paper package, especially when buying or transporting them in a car, and even after giving them as gifts, thinking about what comes next.
Plus, the minimalist design of the paper package is cute.
(Address)
2-11-19 Komachi, Kamakura-shi,
Kanagawa 248-0006, Japan
(Phone)
0467-25-0810
(Hours of Operation)
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed on Wednesdays
Kamakura has more souvenirs under 1,000 yen to explore, but I’d like to introduce them in another blog. When searching for souvenirs in hot summer Kamakura, enjoying matcha ice cream while strolling is a must. Be sure to check out ‘8 Matcha Soft Serve and Ice Cream Spots in Kamakura’.
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