Hiking and Bamboo Forests in Kamakura!! 4-Hour Tour With a Historian
Joined 2023
Hi, I'm John, and I specialize in informative yet irreverent tours full of fun facts and surprising truths. On this tour, we'll take a hike around Kamakura's ancient mountain trails which are flanked by shrines, graves, statues, and of course gorgeous natural beauty! We will also visit one of Kamakura's most beautiful temples and take in its stunning bamboo forest.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Kita-Kamakura Station (or your hotel)
- This is the station -before- Kamakura if you're coming from Tokyo or Yokohama! Please don't forget to get off.
Kencho-ji Temple
This is one the most unique temples in Kamakura, with a wide variety of interesting and sometimes downright strange statuary lying about. It's also the most historically important and the oldest zen temple in Kamakura.
Ten-En Hiking Trail
Right behind Kencho-ji, there's an trailhead for the Ten-En Hiking Trail, where we'll set off for our hike, which will take a little over an hour, depending on our pace. This hike isn't particularly difficult, but it can be a bit slippery at times, so make sure to wear grippy shoes! ;)
Kamakura-gu
Visit a shrine steeped in samurai history AND engage in a fun local tradition that will improve your luck!
Hokoku-ji Temple and Matcha
This temple is famous for its gorgeous bamboo forest. And, in my opinion, the entire temple is impeccably manicured and well worth a visit. Despite being many hundreds of years old, it looks well-near brand new in places.
We'll also sit down and sip some matcha in their cafe, enjoying the atmoshpere of their bamboo forest.
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
1. Guide fee
2. Hotel pickup if you are staying in Yokohama or Kamakura. Please contact me ahead of time if you'd like to take advantage of this.
1. Entrance fees for yourself and the guide. (~¥1000/person)
2. Snacks along the way
3. Transportation fees for you and the guide.
Tour Important Information
1. This tour involves a lot of walking on trails in the mountains, so make sure to wear good walking/running shoes.
2. If you have any food allergies, let me know ahead of time.
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 2023
About Tour Guide John L.
Hi travelers, I'm John! I'm a part-time teacher and a full-time history nerd, and I've lived in the Tokyo/Yokohama/Kamakura area for 6 years. If you're looking for a fun time hiking up some small mountains and avoiding the crowds by hitting up lesser-known(but still amazing) sights, then I'm your guy! Or, if you want to hit up all the big sights and be wowed by their splendor, I'm still your guy! So, let's get out there, have some fun, and I'll teach you all I know about Japan and its wonders!
Also, being a vegetarian, I know all the best veg-friendly places in the area, so I'm an excellent for vegetarians and vegans.
$54/ per group
More tours by John L.
Haunted Kamakura
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Let's Get (history) Nerdy! Customizable Full-Day Kamakura Tour
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.
The Best of Yokohama With a Historian
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Other Popular Off the Beaten Path Tours in Kamakura
Walking tour along an old Kamakura samurai road
Kamakura was the seat of the Bakufu (feudal government) from the 12th century to the 14th century. Many samurai warriors as well as commoners came and went. Kamakura is surrounded by mountains and they would walk across them. Unfortunately, with urbanization, almost all roads are now paved and widened. But you still can walk on the hill side. You can walk an old road between Yokohama (Mutsura) and Kamakura. This road is actually the same as the one used in the 12th century.
Small hiking in Kamakura to feel its ancient atomosphere
You can enjoy a small hiking in a north mountain area, where you will feel ancient atmosphere by visiting a mystic cave shrine called Zeniarai-Benten and Sasuke-Inari shrine. You can also enjoy other faomous spots, Tsurugaoka-Hachiman-gu shrine and Great Buddha.
One day in Kamakura and Enoshima Island using Enoden Line
On this tour, we'll first visit Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine which was constructed by the first Shogun, and take a train to visit Great Buddha in Hase area. Then again take the train to Enoshima station. A little walk from the station is Enoshima Island, an island of the legend of a dragon and sea goddess, the island has recently been very popular among many young couples as a power spot as well. On top of the island we can climb up on a lighthouse and if you are lucky, Mt. Fuji can be seen!!
Haunted Kamakura
Being the site of mass suicides, WW2 combat training drills gone wrong, and ancient battlefields, Kamakura is a perfect breeding ground for supernatural occurences and scary stories. Come with me and we'll go and see some of the spookiest sites in Kamakura, along with some of the highlights!
