Seasonal flowers welcome you all the year around. (Meigetuin temple N4 - 16 June 2020)

Autumun leaves (Engaku-ji temple N1 - 25 Nov. 2017 in Dec.)

Zen garden at the Bamboo temple (C1).

View of the Pacific Ocean from the hiking trail (H1). It can also be viewed from Engaku-ji, Kencho-ji, and Hasedera temples.

The Great Buddha (W1).

View of Mt. Fuji from Kencho-ji Temple hill(N3). A similar view can be seen from Engakuji Temple hill (N1).

Soak in the tranquility of Jochi-ji Zen temple grounds (N2).

Money Washing Shrine (W3) located in a cave.

People believe the spring water at the Money Washing Shrine (W3) will energize and multiply it.

The Great Buddha at Kamakura (W1).

Bamboo forest at Hokokuji temple (C1)

Kamakura, Your Way

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Toshi(T-chan)

Licensed Guide

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Kamakura

6 Hours

up to 6 people

English ( Business )

Private tour (only you and your guide)

Walking / Public Transportation Tour
( Contact guide for other options )

Kamakura, the birthplace of Zen Buddhism, is a beautiful residential area dotted with zen temples. The Great Buddha is another highlight. The Pacific Ocean’s gentle breeze adds to the tranquil atmosphere.
We’ll find the most suitable mix of destinations to match your interests and physical exertion level. (See the ITINERARY)
A walking tour is good value for money (H1)! We’ll get to experience 5 temples and shrines!
For a more leisurely pace, a bus and a taxi are best.
See you in Kamakura!

Itinerary

Feel free to personalize this offer with Toshi(T-chan).

Tour destinations are in four (4) zones: Central (C), West (W), North (N) and Hiking (H). Destinations within the same zone are about within 20 minutes from each other by bus or on foot.
The numbered photos correspond to the following. Please choose one to three destinations for a 6-hour semi-custom tour.
C1: Bamboo Temple -Houkokuji ( 0.5 to 1hr)

Savor a cup of matcha green tea while enjoying the serene sight of the bamboo forest.
Entrance: 200 JPY / person, 500 JPY matcha
C2: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (1hr)

Largest Shinto shrine in the Kamakura area.
C3: Komachi Dori shopping street (1 to 2hrs)

Lunch and shopping
W1: The Great Buddha (11m high) - Kotokuin Temple (30mins)

Most popular sightseeing spot in this area.
Entrance = 300 JPY / person
W2: Hasedera Temple (1 to 1.5hrs)

Japanese garden; statue of Buddha with 11 heads; a unique cave shrine.
Entrance = 400 JPY / person
Vegetarian cafe in the temple grounds.
W3: Money Washing Shrine - Zeniarai Benten (30 min)

The spring water in this cave is said to energize money and multiply it.
W4: Sasuke Inari Shrine (30 mins)

Red torii gates line the path to this small shrine on the side of the mountain.
About 1,000 miniature ceramic foxes are on the shrine grounds. Can you find them all?
N1: Engaku-ji Temple (zen temple) (1 to 2hrs)

Both the temple bell and Shari-den Hall are national treasures. Excellent view of Mt. Fuji from the hilltop on nice winter days.
Entrance = 300 JPY / person
N2: Jouchi-ji Temple (zen temple, 30 mins)

Small rustic temple with statues of Amida, Shaka, and Miroku Buddhas. Shaka is the main Buddha flanked by two minor Buddhas.
Entrance = 200 JPY / person
N3: Kencho-ji Temple (zen temple, 1 to 2hrs)

An observation deck in the hills behind the temple grounds has breathtaking views of Kamakura City and Mt. Fuji on clear days. It’s about a 15-min walk from the main hall.
Entrance = 500 JPY / person
N4: Meigetsuin Temple (30 mins)

Well-known for seasonal flowers and fall foliage on the temple grounds.
Entrance = 500 JPY / person
N5: Zen vegetarian lunch

Advanced booking recommended. Lunch starts at 2,500 JPY per person.
H1: Hiking & walking tour (3 to 4 hrs)

Starts at Kita Kamakura (North Kamakura). Walking path to N2, W3, W4, W1, & W2. (5km walk with some uphill walking)
*N1 and N4 are additional options.
Drop off at Yokohama Chinatown

40-min train ride from Kamakura
Train fare = 390 JPY / person
Enoshima island

Part of Enoshima & Kamakura tour on my tour page.
NOT INCLUDED in this tour.
Sample itinerary

10:00 - Meet at your hotel in Tokyo
11:00 - (N1) Engaku-ji Temple
13:30 - (W1) Great Buddha
14:30 - (W2) Hasedera Temple
16:00 - Tour ends at JR Kamakura Station

Want to personalize this tour?

Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
Click below to tell us what you are looking for:

Customize & Get a Quote

Departure & Return

Depart From Kamakura

Starting time 10:00 AM ( recommended ) Flexible

Meeting Point Your Central Tokyo or Yokohama hotel OR JR Kita Kamakura Station.

Ending Point JR Kamakura Station or at a pre-agreed place (in Tokyo and Yokohama)

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

Guide fee

What‘s not included

The following are PAID IN CASH on the day/s of the tour.
= Transportation (you & guide) = approx. 2,000++JPY/person (Tokyo round trip)
= Guide transportation to meet-up place (given to guide on tour date):
. . . = 1,000JPY for Central Tokyo
. . . = 1,500JPY for Kamakura Station
. . . = 1,600JPY for Haneda Airport
= Lunch / food / drinks (you & guide)
= Entrance fee (you & guide) = Guide has a pass for most temples.
= Peak season premium per group = 1,000JPY extra
. . . Spring : Mar 20 to Apr 30
. . . Autumn : Sep 25 to Nov 10

Important

(1) Since some are located a little far from the train station, we would have to walk or take a bus/taxi. (2)JR Train fare (round trip from Tokyo) = approx. 2,000JPY. (3)The area is crowded on weekends, holidays, and the peak season (for cherry blossoms & fall foliage). (4) Only walking tours and H1 hiking tour are conducted during GW period (April.28 to May 5) to avoid the heavy holiday crowd.

Multiple-day bookings are encouraged. I might have greater flexibility in opening closed slots in this case. Let's talk about it. Send me a message! :‑)
.

MORE INFO:
= We use public transportation (train, subway, bus and/or taxi) in my tours as it's the best way to see the city.
= Please book at least SIX HOURS PRIOR to a custom tour.
= The meet-up time marks the official start of the tour.
= Hotel pick-ups = only in Central Tokyo, Yokohama, and a few hotels in Kawasaki.
= Early pick-up (before 9:30) = extra 1,000JPY/hr
= Tour extension (extra hour service) = 3,500JPY/hr
= Four-hour tours available = Tokyo, Harajuku & Shibuya, Odaiba, Shinjuku, Ueno, Yokohama, and antique flea market. Please check out the corresponding tour pages.
= HAKONE TOURS = Requires close coordination with the guide BEFORE BOOKING. It takes more time to plan this trip.
= MT. FUJI TOURS = Only available as an ADD-ON to a Tokyo tour (at least 4-hr Tokyo tour on a different day). Guests should book their own private car or van.
NOTE: Highly recommended to book transportation first as they are quite popular. Otherwise, we may not have transportation on the tour date.
.
PEAK SEASON PREMIUM = 1,000 JPY per group
Charged ONLY ONCE on the first day of the first tour in the peak season.
. . • Spring peak season : March 20 to April 30
. . • Autumn peak season : September 25 to November 10

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation - 30 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 15 to 29 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 14 day(s) prior to meeting time

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make changes after I book?

Yes! If you need to make changes such as removing or adding someone to your booking or changing the date or time of your tour, contact us by phone or email

Starting and ending points of the tour.

After you secure your booking, the starting and ending points of your tour can be customized to your convenience (ex.: your hotel, nearby stations, etc.). Don't worry, we will take care of you! Some tours may have an extra fee for this service, make sure to check the tour page.

What happens after I book a tour?

After booking a tour, the guide will accept (or decline) your booking within 24 hours. Then you will be noticed by email from GoWithGuide.

Is the price per person or per group?

The price is charged per group. Which means that you make a one-time payment for your entire group and the price will not change if it is less or more people.

Can I add more people to my booking?

Some guides accept extra people (more than the specified number) for an extra charge. Please check for the extras on the tour or booking page, or contact your guide directly to clarify.

Will there be other tourists in my tour?

No. Your tour is private, only for you and your family or friends, there will be no other group of tourists together in your tour.

Can the guide pickup me at the airport?

Yes, but there will be additional charge for that and it is not by car. The guide will go pick you up using public transportations. For further details, please contact your guide directly.

I'm travelling alone. Can I book this tour?

Yes, you can and you may be able to get a discount if you are traveling alone. Price depends on which guide you choose.

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Reviews ( 91 )

4.9 (91) Reviews

Excellent		95%
Very Good		5%
Good		0%
Poor		0%
Horrible		0%

KARYNA ( Solo ) Canada

KARYNA Canada ( Solo )

Excellent

1 year ago

“ Extraordinary day in Tokyo with excellent guide Toshi-San ”

Thank you T-Chan (Toshi-San) for an amazing day in Tokyo. I was a solo traveler with one day in Tokyo. T-Chan made it a truly unforgettable day. My day with Toshi started when she picked me up promptly at my Shinjuku hotel. She then took me to experience TeamLab Planets - a spectacular body immersive digital arts experience - in Odaiba. Along the way, we rode the fully automated train and she showed me different sights along the train line. Second stop was the Onsen in Odaiba. This was a most unique experience I wouldn’t have been able to manage without T-Chan with me. We enjoyed the onsen, the shops and the bath. It felt like a relaxing afternoon with a good friend. Next, T-Chan showed me the shops in Odaiba, where we walked around and she helped me find the items I was looki... read more

Toshi(T-chan):

Thank you Karyna-chan! So delighted to hear you had a relaxing layover. I felt like you were one of my old friends, too. We, Japanese, have the Onsen culture. Even in the heart of Tokyo, we could soak in the natural hot spring. Amazing, isn’t it? As we are both dog-person, exploring pet stores was so fun! I hope your dogs will love the kimono costumes which you bought for them. How did you like sake? We sampled 5 varieties. I liked the sparkling sake the best. There are more trendy spots in Tokyo. Let’s go to Shibuya next time! Hope to see you again.

Annette ( Family with kids ) Australia

Annette Australia ( Family with kids )

Excellent

1 year ago

“ Fantastic tour! ”

We had a wonderful tour with Toshi today. It was very interesting, informative and entertaining! Toshi modified our tour to add in all of our requested inclusions and the tour flowed easily. I really appreciated her encouragement to join in the Kawaii Monster Show and this was an absolute highlight! Toshi also gave us lots of information on what to do for our remaining time in Tokyo and she pointed out lots of things during our time, that you would miss not being a local. I highly recommend Toshi as a guide and this was a great experience for our family. Thank you Toshi x

Toshi(T-chan):

Arigato, Annette! Harajuku was fun, wasn't it? So glad we managed to hit all the spots you wanted. We felt as if we were surrounded by an explosion of color and ultimate cuteness at Kawaii Monster Café. So glad to hear you enjoyed dancing on the giant pink cake! You now have quite a collection of memories: dog café, the rainbow-colored food, the cosplay store, the dazzling display of products in the stores, the surreal mirror escalator, etc. (I can stare at this all day long!) Ukiyoe museum was very impressive, wasn’t it? They change the exhibit every two months. You need to come back and check other collections. Enjoy the rest of your Tokyo stay! Hope to see you again soon!

Kristina ( Family with kids ) Australia

Kristina Australia ( Family with kids )

Excellent

1 year ago

“ Great day in Tokyo with a large family group ”

We spent a fabulous day with T-Chan! She was organised, knowledgeable, polite, expert and caring. She took us to the places we were interested in but enhanced our itinerary further with other suggestions and places. We fit a lot in the day but didn’t feel overly rushed. Our relatively young children also enjoyed the day very much which can be challenging. T-Chan even provided us with summary notes at the end of the day of everything we had seen. Really great! Thank you so much T-Chan!

Toshi(T-chan):

Thank you, K-chan! So delighted to know that all of you enjoyed our tour. I did, too. We were so lucky that we were able to take group photos with two sumo wrestlers in Ryogoku! The atmosphere in Asakusa was still quite festive with its New Year decor. The highlight of the tour was Harajuku. The girls really liked the store and said “I want to buy everything here!” It was hard to leave as there were so many cute stuff, wasn’t it? Next time, let’s take a Purikura photo together! Hope to see you again.

Wendy ( Friends ) Australia

Wendy Australia ( Friends )

Excellent

1 year ago

“ Shinjuku Tour ”

Thank you so much Toshi for accomodating our large group during very busy times. You went out of your way to help us organise the bookings with our JR passes & then it was down to the fun stuff. We thoroughly enjoyed your tour & appreciated the maps you gave us at the end to help us. Your suggestions you emailed to us after our tour as to other activities the kids might enjoy and what train line to use when we returned to a different area of Tokyo were also greatly appreciated. You went above & beyond so thank you ?

Toshi(T-chan):

Thank you, Wendy! I'm so pleased to hear my travel tips helped you. It was fun to see all of you enjoy our tour! The weather was very cooperative that day. The Meiji Jingu Shrine grounds was so serene that we totally forgot we were in the center of a big city. Don’t you think so? Harajuku has been my favorite place since I was a teenager. One day is not enough to check out all trendy stores. Did you go to Kabukicho at night? It’s quite different compared to what we saw in the morning. Please come back so we can explore more of Tokyo together. A different season is also good. Hope to see you again!

Shyam ( Family with kids ) United States

Shyam United States ( Family with kids )

Excellent

1 year ago

“ Best time spent on a layover ever! ”

I was on a 12 hour layover from Narita airport so I decided to take a tour of Tokyo in that time. I booked Toshi in that time and I was surprised to find out that I could customize the tour to whatever I wanted, so I picked the tour and settled the timing of everything with her. The tour was really thorough and expansivr as Toshi seemed to know everything about Tokyo and Japan, If I had a question then I just had to point and ask and I would get a detailed explanation. Aside from the main tour Toshi was really nice, I have a leg surgery so we took breaks when necessary and she helped us with the train tickets and everything. She even helped us reschedule some train tickets when the tour was technically over which she didnt have to do but she helped us with it anyway. I totally recomend Tos... read more

Toshi(T-chan):

Thank you, Shyam. So delighted to know you and your son had a meaningful time with me. (I did, too!) It was fortunate that we saw some of the New Year traditions and the early blooming of cherry blossoms in Asakusa. The view from Roppongi hills was breathtaking, wasn’t it? Tokyo is quite a big city, indeed. We barely even scratched the surface of Tokyo! Please stay for a couple days next time. Let's go to an animal café in Harajuku together!

See all reviews ( 91 )