Kamakura Private Tours &amp; Local Tour Guides

I’m so excited to have a chance to show you around my favorite spots in Kanagawa prefecture. I was born in Kanagawa. I spent my whole school life, including university, here in Kanagawa. I worked as a high school English teacher here for 40 years. I love Kanagawa so much. We have many interesting tourist spots, like Hakone, Kamakura, Enoshima and Yokohama. I got my tour guide license in English in 2009. I am still an English teacher. To give an interesting and impressive lesson to young high school students, I’ve learnt and gathered many kinds of information. I also have a license to teach social studies, so I have a wide range of knowledge about Japanese culture and history. I’m sure to provide you an interesting tour.

Haruo T.

4.86 / 5

(7 reviews)

I live in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture. I have a license to teach in high schools and was admitted to the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language in the University of Birmingham. Until 2015 I had been teaching English at public high schools in Kanagawa for 37 years. During that time, I had some experience of guiding students from overseas through sister-school relationship around Tokyo and Kanagawa. Therefore, I had good command of English with the TOEIC score of 935. As for a tour guide experience I earned the certificate of National Government Licensed Guide-Interpreter in English and since then I have guided tourists to the popular sites around Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura and Yokosuka. My guiding focuses on introducing not only Japanese historical and cultural backgrounds but also giving tourists some tips to travel Japan only by themselves, such as how to use trains and subways, find good restaurants, reserve tickets, buy survenier, and speak basic Japanese. In addition, my tour includes opportunities to experience Japanese culture like Zen meditation, ninja performance, visiting anime's location sites based on tourists' request. Besides, by means of my hobbies of writing English Haiku and Waka (traditional Japanese poems) and performing Rakugo (traditional Japanese funny story telling) in English, I can surely entertain tourists during the tour. My moto as a tour guide is let the tourists have a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Japan with my profound, intelligible and interestiog guiding.

Junichi N.

4.79 / 5

(116 reviews)

Hello, I am Junichi. I am a licensed tour guide. I worked at a bank for 41 years, including overseas assignments in NY & LA for 12 years. I started this tour guide in 2007. I'd like you to experience and enjoy a Japanese culture different from your own.

Noriko O.

4.76 / 5

(17 reviews)

View All Kamakura Tour Guides

Hi! Dear my future guest! I hope you are well. Hard conditions have been still going on but I'm so excited to welcome you. During the pandemic, I've got certificates as a medical interpreter and had chance to work at a hospital in Tokyo. It was a great opportunity such as to attend patients with covid and others illnesses. I came to reconsider safety and security is very important for travellers to relax and enjoy. I live in Chiba prefecture, commuting area to Tokyo. I was born in a family of Buddhism priest in Fukushima, So, I like to show you traditional temples and shrines just as a part of everyday life. I also like nature, arts, fashion, foodie....maybe everything! The attraction of Tokyo is mixture of something new and something old. Please feel many attractive scenes with me! I started my carrer as a tour conductor and visited many countries and had a chance to live in the Philippines for 5 years and US for 1 year. I remember people were so kind and generous to me. That's the reason why I am a tour guide now to do something helpful for guests from all over the world. So please don't hesitate to tell me your interest, I'm willing to be with you almost everywhere around Tokyo and Japan!

New Kamakura Tour Guides

Yuji H.

This is Yuji, Japanese creator, such as painting, illustration, cartoon, and designing for Japanese magazine & advertising. I graduated from college in the US long ago. I used to work for Japanese publishing company for travel and Information magazine. I take lots of foreign friends to many places around Tokyo as a guide. I can take you common famous places, but also I can guide you if you have a special request, such as art, anime, table tennis or something belongs to your interest. For mostly I guide you by using the common transportation. but I also use my car to take you around for a small member of group because my car is so small, mini cooper.

Miya M.

My name is Miya and I’ve been guiding the visitors from overseas since 2017. Currently I guide small private group mainly in Tokyo with focusing on providing the tour of tuna auction at Toyosu market. Drawing on my experience of attending the guests as a expatriate in Singapore , I thrive to prepare according to interests of guests and tailor the guiding on their prefers pace.

Arisa S.

5.00 / 5

(2 reviews)

Welcome to our wonderful country! I just came back from Sydney on December. Now I'm feeling traveling Japan. Japan is the place where we can find ourselves. That's why I came back here. I have traveled to 20 countries so far.I love traveling and I am so interested in other culture. Let me know about your county and traditional things. Can't wait to know that! I will try to make you enjoy Japan by my experience in various countries. I hope you will fall in love with Japan and come back again. I am currently teaching English to Japanese children. Actually my English skill is no perfect but passion is second to none! I am good at taking photo, so I can make your best memories together. Feel free to ask anything! Hope see you soon! Thank you.

Hiro S.

View All Kamakura Tour Guides

Konnichiwa! I'm Hiro. I'm originally from Kobe, lived in United States for 10 years, Tokyo for 10 years and now I live in Kamakura with my family. I enjoy surfing, and trailrunning in Kamakura and keeping myself very active. I really enjoy meeting people from all over the world and it will be grateful to share some very interesting historical spots in Kamakura and whole Shonan area. Good thing about this area is that its beautiful all year around and you can enjoy even when the weather is not good. I look forward to meeting you very soon.

Popular Kamakura Private Tours

Best Memories of Kamakura

Kamakura used to the capital of Japan during 12th to 14th century. It was the first period governed by the samurai warriors; Shoguns.Since samurai practiced Zen Buddhism, there are many Zen Temples which were built before those in Kyoto.

Bamboo Temple, Sugimoto Temple, and three other attractive spots in Kamakura

6 hours

Once the samurai capital of Japan, Kamakura is visited by as many as 20 million people a year. Some of the most popular spots among visitors are Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, Great Buddha, and Hokokuji Temple nicknamed Bamboo Temple. On this tour, along with the three places, I would like to offer two more attractive spots to visit. We first visit three places in the north-eastern area of Kamakura, Bamboo Temple, popular for its bamboo glove with a teahouse serving powdered green tea, Sugimoto Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in Kamakura dating back to the 8th century, Egara Tenjin, a shinto shrine enshrining deified Sugawara Michizane, the god of learning and scholarship. We take a bus to visit Bamboo Temple, but after that we enjoy strolling around the local residential areas while visiting two other places and the fourth destination, Tsurugaoka Hachiman Srine which was constructed by the first Shogun of the Kamakura Government. After coming back to Kamakura station, we take the Enoden Line to Hase station to visit the last destination, Great Buddha, an open-air Buddha sitting under the sun for some 750 years. This tour covers history of Kamakura from much before the establishment of the samurai government to just after the end of it, and of course, shopping in Komachi-dori street and at Masamune Sword and Blade Workshop by request.

One day trip to Kamakura

Kamakura is a very popular tourist destination and has a lot of beautiful places such as Buddhist temples with gardens, and Shinto shrines. The city has a lot of Japanese restaurants which offer lovely dishes. We’ll visit some of the most popular spots in Kamakura, such as Hokoku-ji temple (with a bamboo garden), Hase-dera temple (one of the oldest temples in Kamakura), and Kotoku-in temple which is well known for the Great Buddha. I hope you have a lovely day in Kamakura!

Flowers in Kamakura: Great Buddha, Hasedera & Eishoji Temple

View All Kamakura Private Tours

Kamakura is a very healing city, which became the capital of Samurai at the end of the 12th century, and has a lot of temples where we can see lovely flowers. We will ride a train for approximately an hour or so from Tokyo/Yokohama/Kawasaki area to visit there. Appreciating the flowers, some temples and shrines, we can also enjoy the beautiful twilight seaview.

New Kamakura Private Tours

One-day tour from Kita-Kamakura to Enoshima

9 hours

Just over an hour from Tokyo, you can visit an ancient capital with a completely different history. Kamakura was a town that became the center of politics under Minamoto no Yoritomo in the 12th century. Kamakura is a town of samurai, and Zen was also loved by the samurai. Kamakura is also the city where Zen Buddhism was brought to Japan and widely spread. Why not walk me through Kamakura, a town nurtured by history and culture?

Kamakura Hiking Tour with an Expat!

Embark on a tranquil journey through Kamakura's spiritual heart. From the serene Myoho-ji to the lush vistas of Zuisen-ji and the historic Kencho-ji, this walking tour blends Zen gardens with natural beauty. Ascend the Tenen Hiking Course for breathtaking views, and find peace at Meigetsu-in, the 'Temple of Hydrangeas'. Spanning 12km with stops at each temple and a leisurely lunch, it's a day of discovery and reflection. Join me and immerse yourself in the soul of this historic town.

FROM$226/ per group

Mark R.

Kamakura Cycling Day Tour!

Join this Kamakura day tour on wheels for a blend of ancient spirituality and coastal charm. From the serene Komyoji and majestic Great Buddha at Kotokuin to the quaint Koshigoe fishing village and panoramic views from Samuel Cocking Garden, we'll explore the heart of Kamakura and Enoshima's treasures. Delight in local flavours and uncover the stories that make this region enchanting. Two wheels can help you see much more in a limited time at this wonderful portion of the Japanese coast.

FROM$197/ per group

Mark R.

Let's Get (history) Nerdy! Customizable Full-Day Kamakura Tour

View All Kamakura Private Tours

Hi, I'm John, and I offer informative yet irreverent tours full of fun facts and surprising truths. Come with me, a Japanese history major, and explore the capital of Japan's first samurai rulers! I do all the reading so that you don't have to! Please let me know if there's anything in particular that you want to see or avoid during our trip, and I will change the itinerary to suit your needs. I even have ideas for nature-lovers and people who want to avoid crowds! See the example below.

FROM$65/ per group

John L.

Popular Kamakura Private Cars

Kamakura private customize tour with luxury van

Fuji limousine service J.

9 hours

Our drivers have extensive geographic knowledge of Kamakura. Starting from Tokyo, we provide high-end exclusive chartered car reservation services for VIPs visiting Kamakura individually or in groups. According to the time and requirements of VIPs, we provide professional Kamakura customized tour services, allowing tourists to travel easily and comfortably.

FROM$473/ per group

4.91 / 5

(132 reviews)

Kamakura sightseeing with a private chartered van (1-12pax)

You can plan to visit several places around Kamakura within a limited time with our van. Our commuter can accommodate a group of up to 12 people and our service is available for 24h!

FROM$549/ per group

Van transportation M.

4.48 / 5

(153 reviews)

☆Kamakura Day Tour with a Private Car

Experienced local taxi drivers will cordially show you around the area so that you can visit both must-see and hidden sightseeing spots and enjoy local food.

Day Trips from Kamakura

Tokyo

Yokohama

Kanagawa

Chiba

Kamakura Tour Reviews

Nicole L.

5 / 5

Apr 30, 2024

The essence of Kamakura - A half-day trip to another world

5 hours 50 min

Apr 30, 2024

“Knowledgeable Tour guide”

I hired Itsumi to pick us up and drop us off at our hotel in Tokyo for a trip to Kamakura / Itsumi knows the area pretty well and showed us the main attractions- She try to include all our wishes and doesn’t mind to spend extra time - It was a pleasant trip- I will hire Itsumi again when I visit Japan again Nicole

Itsumi S.

(7 reviews)

Thank you, Nicole ! I really enjoyed to be with you. We had a lovely Kamakura time ! Please give my regards to Robert as well. Thanks, Itsumi

Arthur C.

5 / 5

Apr 29, 2024

Excursion to Kamakura from Tokyo

8 hours 30 min

Apr 29, 2024

“Best experience ”

Yuka led us through our most memorable experience in Japan. We experienced the amazing train system and saw beautiful temples and shrines along with the amazing big Buddha. We had a wonderful lunch at a lovely Japanese restaurant. Amazing day.

Yuka S.

(42 reviews)

Thank you for joining Kamakura tour, Arthur. We started at the Tokyo Cruise Terminal and took trains, visited Hase temple, Buddha, Hachimangu shrine. I'm happy I met your family.

Kayling N.

5 / 5

Apr 18, 2024

Kamakura & Yokosuka: History of War and Peace Tour