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Best Memories of Kamakura
Joined 2014
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.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel
- I will meet you near the reception. I will show your name on my iPad.
The following is a standard plan with optional places you can choose. Approximate time durations are also shown.
10:00-11:30 Hotel pick up and Transport to Kamakura by JR train
I will pick you up near the reception.
12:00-12:30 The Great Buddha in Kotoku-in Temple
The Great Buddha in Kotoku-In Temple; The Buddha was built in the 13th century, which is the most popular site in Kamakura. It is a statue of Amida Buddha who helps everyone in need to be reborn in the Heaven (Admission: 300 JPY except the guide)
12:30-13:30 Hase-dera Temple
Hase-dera Temple; It is about 10 minutes walk from the Great Buddha, this temple was established in 8th century, which has a nice Japanese garden, various statues of Buddha, a deck to overview the Pacific Ocean, and a unique cave shrine. It is also famous for its hydrangea trail which is very crowed in June. (Admission: 400 JPY except the guide)
13:30-14:30 Lunch
Lunch; We will have a casual Japanese lunch such as vegetarian dishes for monks, or tempura with noodle, steamed rice, grilled eel over steamed rice, sushi, or pork cutlet from 1,500 JPY. If you have any restrictions on foods, please let me know before the tour.
15:00-16:00 Your choice of one place from the following options.
You can find pictures of these places from the following link by clicking (>) in the left window.
Option A. Hachiman-gu Shrine
This shrine was established in 1063 for Minamoto Family who governed Japan in the 12th century. This shrine is very big and popular among local Japanese people to visit in new year days. (Admission free)
Option B. Hokoku-ji Temple
This temple was estalished in 1334 to commemorate Ashikaga Ietoki who was the grandfather of Takauji who started Muromachi period. The bamboo forest in the temple is something different from other places (Admission: 300 JPY except the guide). You can drink a cup of Japanese power green tea with sweets with the view of the bamboo forest. (Extra fee: 600 JPY except the guide)
Option C. Kencho-ji Temple
This temple was established in 1253 which ranked as No.1 Zen temple in Kamakura. You can see and take pictures of the marvelous Cloud Dragon in the ceiling which is as good as the one at Tenryu-ji Temple in Kyoto. (Admission: 500 JPY except the guide)
Option D. Enkaku-ji Temple
This temple was established in 1282 which ranked 2nd highest Zen temple in Kamakura. You can see and take a picture of the statue of Shaka in the main worship hall and a garden nearby. (Admission: 300 JPY except the guide)
Option E: Komachi street
Enjoy shopping and foods while walking along the long streets with unique shops of Japanese products and sweets. This street is very popular among local Japanese women.
Option F: Inamura-gasaki beach
If it is very fine, you can see Mt. Fuji from this beach.
If you come here, you will find a cozy restaurant for lunch and may try an Onsen (hot bath) next to the restaurant. They have several private Onsen.
(Admission of Onsen: public 1500 JPY +3000 JPY for a private Onsen with reservation )
Option G. Meigetsu-in Temple
This temple was established in 1160 to comfort the sprit of the samurai who died in the first battle between Heike and Genji families. This temple is very famous among local Japanese for its Hydrangea garden. So it's too busy to visit in June but is good to visit in other seasons for quiet and well maintained gardens. (Admission 500 JPY including the guide)
Option H. Tokei-ji and Jochi-ij Temples
Tokei-ji Temple was established in 1285 as a temple of nun i.e. convent. This temple had been offering the refuge for poor wives escaping from their husband until 1902.
Jochi-ji Temple was established in 1281 for Hojo family who governed the later part of Kamakura period and was the rank No. 4 Zen temple in Kamakura.
These temples are not popular yet among foreign tourists but are old hidden authentic temples. I'd recommend these temples, if you are getting tired of crowded popular places. (Admission 300 JPY in Jochi-ji except the guide, No photo allowed in Tokei-ji Temple)
16:30-18:00 return to your hotel by JR train
At your hotel
End of the tour
Ending Point
At your hotel
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
guide fee, hotel pick up
Transportation cost of you and the guide (3,000 JPY per person)
Lunch of you and the guide (about 1,500 JPY per person)
Entrance fee of you (Big Buddha: 200 JPY, Hase-Dera: 400 JPY, Hokoku-Ji: 300 JPY, Kencho-Ji: 500 JPY, Enkaku-Ji: 300 JPY)
Tour Important Information
Most of the temples close about 16:00 to 17:00.
- The tour guide is not available on Monday.
- Please, send a direct message to the tour guide for confirming the availability before booking
Not available on Mondays.
Important message from the supplier
There is little restriction due to COVID 19 in Japan since 2023. I was vaccinated six times with the Pfizer one.
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 2014
About Tour Guide Yuki K.
I was born and grew up in Yokohama. I used to work in Tokyo for more than 20 years. I became the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in English in 2013. At first, I had attended a volunteer group which provided a tour of the Imperial Palace East Gardens until 2015. I guided more than fifty times in the garden as a volunteer and studied about Japanese history and culture. Based on this experience, I became a tour guide of this online site in 2015.
Since then, I have guided more than 500 tours in Tokyo as well as Yokohama, Kamakura, Hakone, Kyoto, Nikko, etc., while improving my tours. My tours are very flexible and I always do my best to customize them according to the interests of my guests. I studied about the places and will provide you knowledge to appreciate them more deeply than just visiting there by yourself or a member of group tours. I like foods and I know many restaurants which provide typical Japanese lunch with reasonable price without waiting too long. Therefore, I am sure that I can provide you the best tours customized to your interests. It will be my great pleasure to help you to enjoy your stay in Japan. So please be my guest!!
Reviews
Catherine T.
One day Door to Door tour of Kyoto from Tokyo
“Great overview of Kyoto!”
We had a great time on our one day tour to Kyoto! Everything was very well timed and we felt like we had plenty of time to view each site. The restaurant where we ate lunch was especially nice. Yuki was friendly and professional and even helped us purchase our train tickets to the airport for the next day. I would definitely recommend this tour!!
Yuki K.
(367 reviews)Dear Catherine Thank you for the review. We visited most popular places in Kyoto; Fushimi Shrine, Tenryu-ji Temple in Arashiyama, Bamboo forest, and Kinkaku-ji Temple. Everything went well except the rain but it was not so hard as anticipated. Thank you very much for taking my tour. Best regards to your friends; Kara and Rachel. Yuki
“Very expensive and Disappointed ”
We met Yuki at our hotel at 9:00. The weather was overcast. Yuki leant us his passes to travel to Kegon waterfall and Lake Chuzen . By the time we arrived it was impossible to see the falls or lake, we returned to Nikko. While a guide cannot determine the weather an experienced guide would have checked ahead, avoided wasting 2 hours on a bus and suggested an alternative itinerary…..that’s what a guide with local knowledge would have done. We suggested a stop at Nikko Botanical Gardens. Yuki had not visited them …surprising again lack of local knowledge. After lunch we toured the various temples and shrines. Yuki did not tell us anything that was not on the notice boards walking ahead with no attempt to add to our knowledge. We finished about4 returning to our hotel where Yuki was helpful ….we wanted to send some luggage ahead and he compiled the necessary forms In summary very expensive…40,000yen to GowithGuide and another 20,000 to Yuki for “travel and accommodation “ a total of 60,000yen Yuki added little to what we could have done by ourselves. Yuki is not a knowledgeable guide for Nikko and should not be marketed as such We look forward to your response.
Yuki K.
(367 reviews)Dear Ian Sorry for your disappointment. I usually take my guests from Tokyo fort one day tour. You should have known that from my offer. It was very unfortunate that it was so foggy to see anything near the lake on the upper part of Nikko mountains. I planned to take you to the waterfall and lake cruise but neither seemed to work well. So I followed your request to visit the Garden. Then, I took you to Tosho-gu shrine and Rinno-ji temple after Futabasan Shrine which I added as your wife asked me. Please enjoy your trip to Japan and give my best regards to your wife. Thank you for taking my tour. Yuki
“Overcast with gusty winds at Hakone ”
This was supposed to be an eye opening experience on the Shinkansen to Hakone. Not long after we transferred to the mountain train, all power shut down so we were stuck on the train for 2 hours before the authorities allowed all passengers to exit thru the train’s emergency exit in the first car, one by one down a narrow ladder. Of course we sat in the 1st train and were the last ones to exit. We never made it to Lake Ashi or the ropeway, but had a decent lunch before heading back to Tokyo. It was a much shorter trip than originally planned, and quite expensive. Our guide Yuki was attentive and tried his best to find alternative transportation. I only wished he had offered a partial refund.
Yuki K.
(367 reviews)Dear Nina Thank you for writing a review of my tour. It was so unfortunate not only the weather but also the loss of power of the train. I had been advising you not to visiting Hakone on the day based on the weather forecast. But you insisted Hakone so I took you there. Sorry not to think of refunding you. Best regards Yuki
$226/ per group
Reserve
