Kamakura Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

“Above our expectations! ”

Mark communicated well early on, and we decided to do the Kamakura tour, which was great. But what really stood out was Mark's professionalism, humility, knowledge, and humor. We felt we had more than just an above-average guide — we made a new friend. Mark met us at our hotel on time and made it clear he was there to help us get the most out of our tour. He was thoughtful enough to gauge how comfortable we were navigating the large, complex stations so he could give us plenty of advice for our future travel plans, beyond the tour at hand. We learned that he is a seasoned guide with over 10 years of experience, and it showed. The area was crowded, but Mark made everything seamless, which is exactly what we wanted. Add to that his deep knowledge of Japanese history, and at no point during the tour were we bored or overwhelmed. I learned so much about history, culture, and spirituality, but in such a casual way that it was easy to absorb and still enlightening. I'm happy to recommend Mark. And by the way, he speaks great English, and more importantly, he's honest and sets clear expectations.

“Day in Kamakura ”

My friends and I arrived in Tokyo ahead of a group tour. We booked a day in Kamakura with Mika to see some of the temples and shrines. Be at the train station in Tokyo to accompany us and we had a lovely day with her. We are English speaking and her English was good. Mika was very eager to share the culture of Japan with us in addition to visiting the sites. I would recommend her if you are considering time in Kamakura or Enoshima. We were hoping to visit in Enoshima and Mika was eager to take us there. However, we ran out of time. Mika is also a avid photographer and agreed to share her photographs of the day with us.

Mika T.

(4 reviews)

Dear Tom, Kate, and Ken, thank you for your heartwarming review! Spending the day with you in Kamakura was a joyful and memorable experience. Your long-standing friendship, built on years of trust, and your ability to laugh wholeheartedly at both the good and not-so-good things in life truly inspired me. Your genuine interest in Japan’s geography, history, and culture also encouraged me as a guide. Your kind words about my English mean a great deal to me, as I have continued studying it for many years. Seeing your itinerary reminded me of my days at tourist guide school and helped me appreciate how I can bring my own interests and personality to guiding. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote, “Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.” I feel this beautifully reflects your friendship and the joy of traveling together. I hope you enjoy the rest of your journey around Japan, and I would love to explore Enoshima with you next time! Warmest wishes, Mika

“Like Touring with a Dear Friend: A Delightful Day in Kamakura”

We had the absolute best day exploring Kamakura with our wonderful guide, Yuki! From the moment we met, he was completely punctual and took care of every single travel detail, making the entire trip totally seamless and stress-free. He arranged Green Car train seats for us, which made for an exceptionally comfortable and pleasant ride out of the city. Once in Kamakura, he easily navigated the local buses and trolley-routes and connections we never would have figured out on our own. He selected a fantastic local lunch spot and helped us order delicious, traditional Japanese dishes. Throughout the day, he answered all of our questions, sharing rich histories and teaching us the meaningful rituals at each temple we visited. He even patiently helped me practice a few Japanese words and phrases! Blessed with perfect weather, the day moved at a delightfully easy, unhurried pace. His quiet, gentle, and easygoing personality put us instantly at ease, and we shared plenty of good laughs together. We loved every minute of our day and cannot recommend him highly enough!

Yuki K.

(436 reviews)

Dear Chuck, Thank you so much for writing such a detailed description of my tour. Kamakura is my favorite place to visit. We visited the Great Buddha, Hase-dera Temple, and Komachi Street. We had a hard time finding a restaurant for lunch but found a new place with so many choices and casual outdoor tables. Please give my best regards to your wife. Thank you for taking my tour!