Kamakura Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Annual Fixed Asset Tax (typically 1.4% of assessed value) |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
Approx. 3-4% inclusive of stamp duty and registration tax |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
No specific 0% incentive; new Digital Nomad Visa (6 months) allows stay but no local employment |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. ¥1,100,000 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = ¥27,500,000) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. ¥750,000 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = ¥18,750,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. ¥1,000,000 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = ¥45,000,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. ¥700,000 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = ¥31,500,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. ¥950,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = ¥66,500,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. ¥650,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = ¥45,500,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
Effective rate approx. 30.62% (combined national and local) |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
20.42% for non-residents, depending on tax treaties |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Resident status-based (non-residents taxed only on Japan-sourced income) |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
45% (plus 10% local inhabitant tax) |
| 🧾 VAT |
Consumption Tax: 10% (8% on certain food items) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
Yes, 'Anti-tax haven' rules apply to foreign subsidiaries |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan |
| 👥 Population |
Approximately 172,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
Average 95 Mbps; widespread fiber optics (NTT Fle's) |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
1 USD ≈ 150 JPY, 1 EUR ≈ 162 JPY; major banks include Bank of Yokohama and MUFG |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Safe to drink; high quality municipal supply |
| 🔌 Power |
100V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (Flat two-pin) |
| 📶 SIM Card |
Mobal, Sakura Mobile, or Ubigi eSIM (Approx. ¥4,500 for 20GB) |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Sony Bank (Open English app), Wise, and Japan Post Bank |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Traditional Minshuku, Airbnb, and monthly guest houses like Kamakura Rakuan |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Increasingly common via PayPay, Suica, and Credit Cards; small temples still require cash |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb and NowRoom (Approx. ¥180,000 - ¥250,000 per month) |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
WeBase Kamakura (approx. ¥4,500/night for dorms) or Iza Kamakura Guest House |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Komachi-dori / Near Kamakura Station for easy access to temples and shopping |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
Yuigahama or Hase for beach lifestyle and quieter residential feel with cafes |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
Hatara-place Kamakura (¥2,200/day) or Satellite Six in Gokurakuji |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Starbucks Coffee Kamakura Onarimachi (famous poolside design) or Verve Coffee Roasters |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Kamakura 'Startup' meetups and 'Zen and Tech' workshops at local temples |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
Kamakura International Association (KIA) events and Yuigahama beach clean-up socials |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
GO App or S.Ride (Uber works primarily for taxis only) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Hello Cycling (Share bikes) found at Kamakura and Hase stations (¥200/30 mins) |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Yuigahama Beach (Central) or Shichirigahama (Surfing and views of Enoshima) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Peach Aviation or Jetstar Japan (operating from Narita/Haneda) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
Japan Airlines (JAL) or ANA (All Nippon Airways) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
E16 Yokohama-Yokosuka Road accessible via Asahina Interchange |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
JR Kamakura Station and Enoshima Electric Railway (Enoden) |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
Enoden 1-Day Pass 'Noriorikun' (¥800) or Welcome Suica for visitors |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
JR Yokosuka Line to Tokyo (approx. 55 mins, ¥950) or Shonan-Shinjuku Line |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
Kamakura Kyosai Hospital (General hospital with some English support) |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Sugar Yoga at Yuigahama or Beach Yoga sessions during summer months |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Anytime Fitness Kamakura (¥7,678/month) near the station |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Baluko Laundry Place Kamakura (Modern laundromat with cafe nearby) |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
UberEats and Wolt are active in the central Kamakura area |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Shirasu-don (Whitebait over rice) at Misakiya near Hase |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Saiseian (Shojin Ryori/Buddhist cuisine) or Sora-Mizu |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Kamakura Chacha (High-intensity Matcha gelato) or Daily by Long Track Foods |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
Kamakura City Farmers Market (Renbai) for fresh local 'Kamakura Yasai' |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Amazon.co.jp, Rakuten, and Mercari |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Aeon Net Super or Ito-Yokado Net Super |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Bar Ram near the station or the small izakayas along 'Eki-mae' alleyways |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Kamakura Beer (available at Yoridokoro or local convenience stores) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
Umiyama (natural wine) or Cave d'Occitane |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Komachi-dori street (try the grilled rice crackers or fish cakes) |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Bills Shichirigahama (Australian breakfast/brunch with ocean views) |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Kotoku-in (The Great Buddha/Daibutsu) and Hasedera Temple |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and the Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
Hokokuji Temple (The Bamboo Forest Temple) and Kencho-ji |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Kamakura Matsuri (April) and the Yuigahama Fireworks Festival (July) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
Kita-Kamakura (Quiet Zen district) and Komachi-dori |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
Kamakura Geijutsu Kan (Performing Arts Center) |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Kamakura Renbai (Farmers Market) 8AM daily |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Daphne (Jazz club in Kamakura) or live acoustic sessions at beach shacks |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Minimalist murals around Yuigahama surf shops |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Kamakura Mind (Japanese home cooking and tea ceremony classes) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Kamakura Gallery and various small pottery studios in Hase |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
Kamakura Museum of Literature (Former Marquis Maeda villa) |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
Historical capital of the Shogunate; samurai heritage and Zen philosophy |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Ten-en Hiking Trail (Woods and ridges overlooking the city) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park (reachable in 90 minutes) |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
Pacific Ocean Route along Route 134 for coastal cycling |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Inamuragasaki Park (Best sunset view of Mt. Fuji over the ocean) |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Genjiyama Park (Black kites and seasonal birds) |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Generally prohibited on beaches; check designated 'Zaimokuza' bbq spots |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
Yamato Transport (Kuroneko) and Sagawa Express |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
iPhone Repair Kamakura Station or major electronics stores in nearby Fujisawa (Bic Camera) |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Kamakura City Gymnasium (Open to public for a small fee) |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
Kamakura Nihongo Class (Volunteer-led community Japanese lessons) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Kamakura City Central Library (Free Wi-Fi and quiet zones) |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Kamakura Lifelong Learning Center |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
None locally; head to Fujisawa or Yokohama for Net Cafes/Gaming Centers |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Pachinko Parlors near the station; casinos are illegal in Japan |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING KAMAKURA