October in Kamakura.
The harsh heat of summer has gradually faded, and we have entered a season that makes walking through the city a delight.
With refreshing breezes blowing through the day, the weather is perfect for a stroll.
Yet, while walking under the sun, one can still feel unexpectedly warm.
Looking at the people passing by in the city, some wear short-sleeved T-shirts, while others are layered in long-sleeved shirts or cut-and-sew tops.
It is the turn of the season, where summer and autumn styles intermingle.
On one such day in October, Tamaki decided to visit some of Kamakura's old buildings.
Her destinations were the Yoshiya Nobuko Memorial Museum in Hase and the Former Kawakita Villa in Yukinoshita.
She hopes to take a leisurely walk through Kamakura in autumn, engaging with its literature and architecture.
Attire for October in Kamakura. Perfect pieces for the turn of the season
Exiting the west gate of Kamakura Station, a refreshing breeze brushed against her cheeks.
Today, Tamaki is wearing a lightweight cotton shirt and loose-fitting pants. On her feet are worn-in leather shoes.
In her bag, she carries a light wool stole.
Until recently, Tamaki often reached for a cotton stole.
With its smooth texture, it was easy to use even in sweaty weather and came in handy whenever the sun felt too strong.
However, now that October has arrived and the air in the mornings and evenings has grown cooler, she finds herself longing for the soft warmth of wool.
Cotton and wool.
Both are natural materials, yet each possesses its own unique merits.
Cotton is moisture-absorbent and provides a pleasantly smooth feel.
Wool, on the other hand, is characterized by fibers that easily trap air, offering excellent heat retention.
A thin wool stole is warm yet light, doesn't feel heavy when wrapped around the neck, and doesn't take up much space when carried.
"It's interesting how the most comfortable material changes with the seasons, even for the same type of stole,"
Tamaki thought to herself as she walked.
In October, Kamakura is a season where the perceived temperature shifts between sun and shade, and between the day and the morning/evening.
Even if it feels pleasant to walk in a thin shirt during the day, it can feel a bit chilly when heading out early in the morning or returning home after the sun sets.
Convenient for such times is a lightweight overshirt that can be worn either as a shirt or as an outer layer.
Worn by itself or layered lightly open, it is a versatile piece for the turn of the season because you can change how you wear it according to the temperature.
On slightly colder days, a thin coat works well.
It is still too early for heavy winter gear, but having a light outer layer provides peace of mind against the chilly morning and evening air.
Enjoying layering according to the day's temperature.
That kind of outfit seems just right for an October stroll in Kamakura.
Yoshiya Nobuko Memorial Museum. Visiting a residence loved by an author
Wool Petit Collar OverblouseWool Nylon Rib Hem Pants Gray Melange
The Yoshiya Nobuko Memorial Museum is located in a quiet residential area of Hase.
It is the home where the author Nobuko Yoshiya spent her later years, and it is also known as a modern sukiya-style building designed by the architect Isoya Yoshida.
Tamaki had long wanted to take her time and see this building.
Walking along the streets of Hase, the sun felt stronger than she expected, enough to make her slightly sweaty.
However, once she turned into the narrow streets of the residential area, the wind blowing through the shadows of the buildings felt refreshingly cool.
At the memorial museum, she turned her attention to the building's calm presence and its carefully arranged interior.
A space that doesn't compete in glamour, but rather stays close to the lives of those who inhabit it.
"A place of living also reflects the person who lives there,"
Tamaki thought.
When she was young, she enjoyed acquiring trendy things, but now she is drawn to items that can be used for a long time.
Clothes that focus on quality materials and careful craftsmanship.
Beyond the comfort of wearing them, the ability to love them even after many years has become an important reason for her choices.
Living surrounded by the things one loves.
(The desk legs are Kamakura-bori!)
Tamaki felt anew that such a thing, while appearing ordinary, is actually quite a luxury.
Former Kawakita Villa. Beauty cultivated by time
Next, Tamaki headed to the Former Kawakita Villa in Yukinoshita.
This is a building that Nagamasa and Kashiko Kawakita—a couple who dedicated themselves to the development of film culture—relocated from a late Edo-period private house where the philosopher Tetsuro Watsuji once lived.
It was also used as a place to welcome film directors and actors from overseas.
The Former Kawakita Villa greeted her with its traditional Japanese style, complete with thick beams, pillars, and an earthen floor.
The color of wood that has weathered many years, and the well-used fixtures.
There is a beauty here that comes from the passage of time, different from things newly made.
"It doesn't lose its charm just because it has grown old,"
Tamaki thought while gazing at the texture of the wood remaining in the building.
Jeans that grow more comfortable to one's body the more they are worn.
Clothes made of natural materials whose texture changes slightly the more they are used.
Sometimes, charms that did not exist when new emerge over the years.
Using things for a long time may not just be about taking care of objects, but also about accumulating time of one's own.
October in Kamakura, without rushing autumn
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Leaving the Former Kawakita Villa, the afternoon light tilted gradually, and a cool evening breeze began to blow through the city.
Tamaki took the wool stole from her bag and wrapped it lightly around her neck.
The soft sensation of the wool felt pleasantly comforting.
Even though a single shirt was enough during the day, it makes her want one more layer as the evening arrives.
In such changes in temperature, she feels the deepening of autumn.
The two old houses she visited today.
There was a beauty there that does not change even after many years.
New things have their own unique charm.
Yet, there are also things that one comes to like even more as time passes.
With the changing of the seasons, what we wear also shifts little by little.
From the cotton stole that felt comfortable until just recently, to the wool stole that offers warmth.
You can enjoy the season simply by adding one autumn-like material to your usual attire.
Just because it is autumn doesn't mean you have to rush to change into winter clothes.
You can welcome autumn little by little, choosing what feels comfortable based on the temperature of the day.
"Perhaps I will come back when autumn has deepened a little more,"
Tamaki thought as she began walking toward the station.
Looking forward to encountering a different Kamakura than the one she saw today.
October Kamakura Stroll FAQ
Q. What kind of outfit is recommended for Kamakura in October?
While Kamakura in October has more refreshing and pleasant days, you can still feel the heat depending on the sun.
Outfits that are easy to move in and can be adjusted according to the temperature, such as thin shirts, blouses, and airy pants, are recommended.
Since it can get chilly in the mornings and evenings, having an overshirt that can be worn as either a shirt or an outer layer, or a thin coat, will provide peace of mind.
Q. For an October stroll in Kamakura, is a cotton or wool stole recommended?
On days when the warmth of the day lingers, a cotton stole with a smooth texture is easy to use, while a wool stole with heat-retaining properties is recommended for days when the morning and evening chill is a concern.
A thin wool stole, in particular, is attractive because it is light, compact, and easy to carry in your bag.
It is best to use different materials according to the temperature and your outfit for the day.
Q. How can one enjoy their time in Kamakura in October?
October is a pleasant season to enjoy city walks while feeling the autumn breeze.
Beyond visiting temples and shrines, cultural strolls exploring historical architecture, literature, and film are also recommended.
Visiting buildings that are usually only open on limited days, such as the Yoshiya Nobuko Memorial Museum or the Former Kawakita Villa, is also a special way to enjoy Kamakura in the autumn.
Walking slowly through the streets while the greenery still remains, before the autumn leaves reach their peak, is also a lovely experience.
Places visited today
Yoshiya Nobuko Memorial Museum
The home where the author Nobuko Yoshiya spent her later years, standing in a quiet residential area of Hase.
A modern sukiya-style building designed by architect Isoya Yoshida, where you can feel the author's lifestyle and aesthetic sense.
Autumn 2026 Public Opening
- Public dates: October 1st–3rd, November 1st–3rd, and every Saturday and Sunday in October and November
- Opening hours: 10:00–16:00
- Last entry: 15:45
- Admission: Free
- Location: 1-3-6 Hase, Kamakura
- Notes: Visits are not permitted on days other than public openings. Entry may be restricted during peak times.
Former Kawakita Villa (Former Watsuji Residence)
A historical building located on the grounds of the Kamakura City Kawakita Film Museum, relocated from a late Edo-period private house.
It was a building where philosopher Tetsuro Watsuji once lived, relocated to Kamakura by Nagamasa and Kashiko Kawakita, and used as a place to welcome overseas film directors and actors.
You can feel the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese house with its thick beams, pillars, and earthen floor.
Autumn 2026 Public Opening
Public dates: October 10th (Sat), 11th (Sun)
Opening hours: 10:00–16:00
Admission: Free
Location: 2-chome, Yukinoshita, Kamakura (within the grounds of the Kamakura City Kawakita Film Museum)
Notes: Openings may be canceled in case of severe weather.
Autumn 2026 Special Opening
Dates: October 31st (Sat), November 1st (Sun), 3rd (Tue/Holiday)
Opening hours: 10:00–16:00 (ends at 15:00 on Nov 3rd)
Admission: Special exhibition fee (General 500 yen, elementary/middle school students 250 yen; exemptions apply)
Details: "Rediscovering Kintsugi in the Shadows." Unlike regular openings, visitors can remove their shoes and view the interior of the building.
※ Public dates and content are subject to change. Please check the official information of each facility before visiting.
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