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A Day in My Favorite Kamakura! Zen Temples, Matcha, Flowers & the Sea Breeze

A cat relaxing at the tea house garden of Jomyo-ji

Casual matcha experience at Jomyo-ji’s tea house

Matcha and Japanese sweets at Jōmyō-ji Temple

Bamboo grove at Hokoku-ji Temple

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu spring

Tsurgaoka Hachimangu in early summer

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu winter

Tsurugaoka Hachinamgu evening

Great Buddha in Spring

Hasedera in spring

Hydrangeas at Hase-dera, overlooking Kamakura

The serene gardens of Hase-dera Temple

Kamakura Sunset

A charming ride on the nostalgic Enoden

A Day in My Favorite Kamakura! Zen Temples, Matcha, Flowers & the Sea Breeze

Highlights

Joined 2025

Yacco M.

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kamakura

English, Japanese (Native)

7 hrs 30 mins

Private tour (only you and Yacco M.)

Up to 6 people

Explore Kamakura with a guide who loves this compact ancient town, rich in history, culture, nature, and Zen spirit. Just an hour from Tokyo, we will visit highlights such as Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, the Great Buddha standing for 770 years, and the bamboo temple. You can savor authentic matcha with Japanese sweets in a serene Zen garden, admire seasonal flowers, and stroll hidden paths to the seaside, where the ocean breeze offers a peaceful close to your journey.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

10:00 AM

Meeting Point

Kamakura station

- Meeting Point: In front of the Tourist Information Office at the East Exit of Kamakura Station. ▷▷If you are traveling from Tokyo or elsewhere, I will be happy to advise you in advance on the most convenient way to reach Kamakura.▷▷▷Upon request, I can also meet you at other convenient locations in Kamakura or Yokohama, such as Yokohama Station, Sakuragicho Station, Ōfuna Station, or the Ōsanbashi International Passenger Terminal (including nearby hotel lobbies). Please feel free to ask me. ▷▷▷▷If you need it and if our schedules match, I can also arrange hotel pickup or drop-off outside Kamakura or Yokohama for an additional fee of 2,000 yen each.

10:20 AM

Hōkokuji Temple (Bamboo Temple)(Zen temple)

Known as the Bamboo Temple, Hokokuji was founded in 1334. It features a grove of about 2,000 bamboo stalks, creating a serene world of rustling leaves and shifting light, as well as a tranquil dry landscape garden with moss and carefully placed stones.

The bamboo grove has been awarded one star in the Michelin Green Guide Japan, recognizing it as a site well worth a visit.

11:00 AM

Jomyo-ji – A Zen Temple with Tea House Kisen-an

Jōmyō-ji, one of Kamakura’s Five Great Zen Temples, was founded in 1188 and offers a quiet atmosphere that reflects the spirit of Zen.

Its highlight is Kisen-an, a tea house overlooking a beautifully designed dry landscape garden.

Here, you can enjoy authentic matcha with a seasonal sweet, and choose between sitting on a chair or on tatami mats.

One of the charms of Kisen-an is that you can relax and enjoy tea without worrying about formal tea ceremony etiquette.

This space is designed for everyone to feel comfortable — you can simply sit back, admire the peaceful garden view, and experience the essence of Japanese tea culture at your own pace

12:00 PM

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu – The Spiritual Heart of Kamakura

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, relocated and expanded by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun, in 1180, is the most important shrine in Kamakura and the spiritual heart of the samurai era. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom along the Dankazura approach, and in summer, the Genpei-ike ponds fill with pink and white lotus. In the spacious grounds, I will share trivia and stories from its long history. If you are lucky, you may also see a traditional wedding or children in pretty kimonos—living proof that these traditions are still alive today, giving you a chance to feel closer to Japan’s history and traditions.

01:00 PM

Around Komachi-dori Street

Enjoy lunch and browsing traditional sweets, snacks, and souvenirs along Komachi Street. I can recommend good Japanese restaurants and even help with ordering food and drinks. I will also share tips on my favorite shops on Komachi Street. You may choose to have lunch and explore together with me, or enjoy some free time on your own.

02:30 PM

Great Buddha (Kōtoku-in Temple)

Let’s meet the iconic Great Buddha of Kamakura—an enormous yet graceful bronze statue that has been peacefully meditating under the open sky since the 13th century. We can also step inside the statue to experience its unique interior and learn more about the mystery of its construction.

03:20 PM

Hase-dera – Kamakura’s Temple of Flowers

Hase-dera, a historic temple said to have been founded in the 8th century, is known as the “Temple of Flowers.” The grounds feature well-tended gardens and charming small Jizo statues, and from its hillside terrace, you can enjoy sweeping views of Kamakura and the sea. In the main hall stands the majestic Eleven-Headed Kannon statue, adding to the temple’s spiritual presence. The temple is beautiful year-round, but from late May to June, it becomes especially stunning, when about 40 varieties and over 2,500 hydrangeas burst into color along the paths.

Be sure to take lots of photos!

04:40 PM

Yuigahama Beach Walk

If the weather permits, we’ll take an off-the-beaten-path backstreet to reach the ocean and finish our journey with a short stroll along the shore, feeling the ocean breeze — perfect for reflection.

05:20 PM

Enoden Ride Back to Kamakura

We’ll take the nostalgic Enoden train, with its retro charm, back to Kamakura Station.

05:30 PM

Kamakura Station

We’ll end our tour at JR Kamakura Station.

I’ll be happy to explain how to get back to your hotel.

Ending Point

Kamakura station

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

・Guide fee

・Guide’s transportation expenses

・Guide’s entrance fees

What‘s not included

・Your Entrance fees: approx. 1,200 JPY

・Your Food and drinks:(If the guide joins you for lunch, kindly cover the guide’s lunch as well.)

・Matcha Experience at Jōmyō-ji Temple (for you& your guide):･･･In case: Matcha with dry sweets: 660 JPY / Matcha with fresh Japanese sweets: 1,100 JPY

Tour Important Information

・Please wear comfortable shoes, as this tour involves walking and climbing up and down stairs.

・Please inform me in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.

・Many temples and small shops only accept cash (JPY) in Kamakura, so please bring some Japanese yen with you.

・This tour includes travel by public transportation, but taxis can also be arranged upon request. If you enjoy walking, it is also possible to cover all the spots on foot.

・Please note that transportation in Kamakura can be crowded on weekends and Japanese national holidays.

・If you need it and if our schedules match, I can also arrange hotel pickup or drop-off outside Kamakura or Yokohama for an additional fee of 2,000 yen each.

・If bad weather is expected, I will be happy to propose an alternative itinerary.

Important message from the supplier

My tours are mainly conducted on foot and using public transportation, but I can arrange a taxi if you prefer, with the cost covered by you.

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Joined 2025

Yacco M.

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yacco M.

Hi, I’m Yacco, a friendly and passionate local guide. I was born and raised in Shizuoka and have lived in Yokohama for over 30 years. For the past several years, I’ve been guiding international visitors in Kamakura, Yokohama, and Tokyo as a volunteer, helping them discover the rich history, culture, and hidden charm of these unique cities.

Traveling abroad creates once-in-a-lifetime memories, and I would love for you to fully experience the beauty and spirit of my favorite towns.

I not only enjoy showing historical and modern landmarks, but also love introducing quiet backstreets, seasonal flowers, cozy cafés, and delicious local food that reflect the charm of everyday life. What I enjoy most is comparing Japanese traditions with my guests’ own cultures and histories—these conversations often lead to deep and inspiring exchanges.

As your guide, I’m happy to customize tours based on your interests, whether you’re seeking unique experiences, historical insights, or local flavors. Let’s walk, talk, and create unforgettable memories together!