Is Kamakura safe?
Very safe, like most of Japan. Crowds, steep trail paths and the sea are bigger concerns than crime.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-14.
- Homicide rate in Japan: 0.2 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Japan: 3.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
Safety in Kamakura at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Petty theft is rare. Black kites on Komachi-dori and the beach snatch food from your hands. |
| At night | Quiet and safe, but most restaurants close by 9 pm and the last trains are earlier than in Tokyo. |
| Solo women | Very safe alone, day or night. The usual caution on empty forest trails near dusk. |
| Other risks | Tsunami risk on the coast; learn the evacuation signs; Wild boar and kites near trails and food stalls; Typhoon surf Aug–Oct |
Scams, areas and local laws
Take care
- Rip currents and big waves on Yuigahama and Zaimokuza beaches after typhoons
- Hiking trails after rain: slippery roots and stone steps
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Short-term visitors must carry their passport at all times; police may ask for it.
- Adderall and strong pseudoephedrine decongestants are banned; check medicines before packing.
- Cannabis, including CBD with THC, is illegal; using it has been a crime since Dec 2024.
How Kamakura compares in Japan
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kyoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Osaka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hiroshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nara | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sapporo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Okinawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakone | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kawaguchiko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Niseko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yokohama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kanazawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Takayama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagoya | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nikko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kamakura | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kobe | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakuba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ishigaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagasaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Shirakawa-go | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Miyakojima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakodate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Otaru | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Beppu | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Matsumoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Koyasan | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Furano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sendai | 5/5 · Very safe |
Quick answers
Is Kamakura safe for solo female travelers?
Very safe alone, day or night. The usual caution on empty forest trails near dusk.
Is Kamakura safe at night?
Quiet and safe, but most restaurants close by 9 pm and the last trains are earlier than in Tokyo.
What is the crime rate in Kamakura?
Petty theft is rare. Black kites on Komachi-dori and the beach snatch food from your hands. Nationally, Japan records 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Kamakura?
Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
More about Kamakura
Going to Kamakura solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Kamakura meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Kamakura City Tourism Association
- Enoden
- JR East
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.