Kamakura: a town you can enjoy more than you imagine
Joined 2017
This tour is designed for the first visit to Kamakura, which has more than 800 years history. We will cover major spots to enjoy Kamakura including Big Buddha. Kamakura is full of history and culture. In this tour, I will talk about historical and cultural influences of Kamakura era to our current life. The starting time is 9:00am because I assume the guests come from Tokyo area, and it takes about 1 hour from Tokyo.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Kamakura station
- JR Kamakura station exit
Kamakura station
This is the starting point of this tour. We will take Eno-den from this station.
Ko-Toku-In temple
This temple is famous for a Big Buddha which is a symbol of Kamakura. Big Buddha was built 1252. You will be surprised by the size of Big Buddha.
Hase-Dera temple
It is said this temple has 1300 years history and famous for a nice garden and flowers all around the year. You can enjoy nice and quiet atmosphere and enjoy a garden designed to express the world of Buddhism. And the main Buddha's statue has 11 faces made from one tree. This is the one you can not miss.
Komachi-dori street
This street is one for shopping and eating. Many small stores and restaurants are available. The length is about 400 meters (a quoter mile), but it will take more than a hour to go through. Good place to enjoy lunch.
Tsurugaoka-Hachimangu
This is a big shrine built in 1180 by the first Shogun in Kamakura era and the landmark of Kamakura. This is a good place to know about Japanese history.
Ho-koku-ji temple
This temple is famous for bamboo grove. This is a good place to enjoy tranquil atmosphere
Kamakura station
This is the ending point of the tour
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
Guide fee
Transportation cost from Guide home to Kamakura station
Transportation cost in a tour
Meal and drink
Admission fee (Total 1000 yen/ person). Guide is free of charge
Tour Important Information
In this tour, we will visit major tourist spots by using public transportation. It means a crowd is expected in many places.
Since a decent distance of walking is involved, I recommend to wear comfortable shoes.
To take lunch, we may have to be in a line.
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 2017
About Tour Guide Hiroshi Y.
My name is Hiroshi Yasuo, but Hiro is good enough to call me.
I used to live in abroad total 8 years and visited more than 30 countries for business and pleasure.
And through my experience of visiting all over Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa, I am very knowledgeable about major tourist places. It means I can help you to make your visit to Japan a very enjoyable one. Also, I like Japanese history and it helps me to explain not only surface explanation of places, but also their background of stories or history of each place. Addition to that, I am very familiar with Japanese railway system. If you give me places you wish to visit, I can tell you the best way to reach those places.
As of Mar 2021, I got Wildness First Aid certification which means I have knowledge of how to treat under emergency situation. Addition to WFA, I understand importance of LNT( Leave No trace) philosophy. It means I respect nature and can help you how to conduct less stress tour for nature.
I understand my role is to make your tour more valuable and enjoyable one.
I hope I can see many people from all over the world.
Reviews
Emily S.
“A Very Special Day Trip”
Hiroshi suggested this day trip for us after several days in Tokyo. And it did not disappoint. He selected several shrines and a temple and also arranged a visit or several hours to a woman who is a tea ceremony master. Fascinating. Hiroshi arranged all the details for us and we had the most marvelous time learning from Hiroshi and absorbing his Shinto and Buddhist spirit.
Hiroshi Y.
Emily Thank you for your good review. I am happy by knowing you enjoyed a day trip in Kamakura. I think tea ceremony experience in Kamakura was a special one and probably not possible by other guides. There are more places to attract you and give different atmosphere in Kamakura.
Emily S.
“Fascinating Tour with Hiroshi”
After three glorious days in Tokyo, we also had the joy of Hiroshi in Hakone! He planned a marvelous tour that included a stop at the most beautiful garden we saw in all of Japan; a trip to see and learn about how the geothermal energy of volcanoes power the 20+ springs that feed Hakone's onsens; a walk down a cedar allee and so much more. Hiroshi also recommended ways for us to spend our half-day before and art our full day with him. He's just a wonderfully knowledgeable, gentle soul who gets what guiding is all about.
Hiroshi Y.
Emily Thank you for taking time to write a review of our tour in Hakone. I like Hakone very much because it has nature, culture and history. The more you learn, the more you get interest. For one day it was not possible to introduce all enchantment of Hakone. Please come back again to Hakone.
Emily S.
“A kind, knowledgeable expert!”
I worked with Hiroshi over nine months to plan 2 days in Tokyo, 1 in Kamakura and 1 in Hakone. After 9 hours, I am so glad for the choice. Hiroshi is extremely knowledgeable about everything from food history to shogunate trivia, from garden design to specific neighborhood districts. He adjusted his plan to accommodate our every whim and he did so with a big smile. We love our day today and can't wait for tomorrow with Hiroshi.
Hiroshi Y.
Emily Thank you for your great comment about the first day in Tokyo. I will do my best in rest of our tour.
$300/ per group
More tours by Hiroshi Y.
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Kamakura is one of the most popular places for tourist because of its long history and many scenic spots . I will take you to 4 most popular places among foreigners which are Hohkoku-ji, Tsurugaoka-Hachiman-gu, Koh-Toku-In(Big Budda), and Hase-dera. But if you have any specific place wish to visit, please let me know. I will make a plan for you. We will take bus, train and walking in this tour.
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Other Popular Highlights Tours in Kamakura
One-Day Ancient Wonders in Kamakura(Bamboo Temple, Hachimangu Shrine, Great Buddha, Hasedera Temple)
Enjoy the historical city Kamakura and feel the old Japanese atmosphere of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrine! At Hokokuji Temple you can enjoy matcha tea while viewing a beautiful bamboo forest. Then we will visit Tsurugaoka-Hachimangu Shrine which was a shrine for samurai warriors and enjoy shopping at Komachi-dori shopping street near this shrine. After lunch we will visit Great Buddha and Hasedera Temple using Enoden local train.
Exploring the spirit of the samurai in Kamakura (7-hour excursion from central Tokyo)
Samurais emerged from lower ranking nobles given the task of policing and defending the east, the Kanto region in particular. They gradually gained power, leading to their establishing the first military government in Kamakura in the late 12th century. Around the same time, Zen was imported and taken to by the samurais. Explore the spirit of the samurai and Zen in Kamakura.
Discover Kamakura & Enoshima in 1 Day with a Licensed guide
*The 7 hours tour starts and ends at a station in Fujisawa or Kamakura If from Tokyo, it's 9 hours, +8000yen This 1 day Kamakura & Enoshima Itinerary is packed with a visit to an islet of Enoshima and visits to 2 Buddhist temples (Kotokuin with Great Buddha and Hase-dera) and 1 Shinto shrine (Tsurugaoka-Hachimangu) in Kamakura. From the hill-top of Enoshima island, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mt. Fuji when the weather is fine. *The itinerary can be customized to meet your requests
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.
