Kamakura Day Hike with Local Expert
Kamakura is a small, quiet, lovely town, one hour south of Tokyo. It was Japan's political center around the 13th century. This tour is especially recommended for nature lovers who seek a day-escape from busy Tokyo. It covers many hidden spots never visited in a large group tour. You will visit some famous spots like the Great Buddha as well. Kamakura is my hometown when I spent half of my life and I still often visitt to see my family. I'm sure you can enjoy the area just like locals do.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel or at any major station convenient for you in central Tokyo
Your hotel or any place of your convenience in Tokyo
- Meet up and get ready for hiking
- ride train to Kamakura direction
JR Kitakamakura station
- start waking/hiking
ancient Zen temples and local Shinto shrines (such as Tokeiji, Jochiji, Zeniarai Benten shrine, etc.)
- 120-minute fun hiking trail in great nature visiting acient Zen temples, local hidden shrines, and some other scenic, historical spots on the way (the time might be extended)
- I'll show you some options and visiting spots will be decided depending on your interest
Great Buddha (Daibutsu)
- Icon of Kamakura
- Large bronze Buddha statue cast in the 13th century- National Treasure
*300 yen/adult
Local restaurant
Lunch / if we snack along the hiking trail, it can be skipped or postponed
Hasedera temple / Enoden street car ride / Seaside / Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine
- the rest of your attractions and destinations are up to you
- I will explaing the options
JR train station (Kamakura or Ofuna) or any place of your convenience
- the end of the tour
Ending Point
JR station (Kamakura or Ofuna) depending on the itinerary
Want to personalize this tour?
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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 fee (you and guide): e.g. ① JR round trip between Tokyo and Kamakura (2000 yen/adult) ② Enoden 2 rides (about 500 yen)
■ lunch
■ admission fee: e.g. Great Buddha (300 yen/adult) Hasedera temple (400 yen/adult)
Tour Important Information
■ Please wear comfortable shoes and outfits for hiking. Short pants and short-sleeved shirts are NOT recommended for your safety and comfort.
■ Let me remind you that we need to change the itinerary if the weather is unfavorable. I will suggest some other alternative plans in that case.
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
About Tour Guide Tomoko H.
Hi everyone! Hearty welcome to Japan.
I’m Tomoko.
I am an English-speaking licensed tour guide, and a registered nurse as well.
“Fun Discovering Experience Walking like a Local!” – F-D-E-W-L!
That’s what I suggest.
【Experiences】
My work history is as follows.
1) high school teacher ---12 years
2) nurse--8 years + 2 years as operational manager for Kamakura city vaccination team (during COVID period)
3) tourism related jobs such as tour conducting, guiding, and backyard supporting---10 years
As a tour conductor, I’ve visited about 20 foreign countries (possibly yours?) as well as countless number of towns and villages in Japan.
I’ve enjoyed these jobs while being a mother.
Through these experiences with lots of people from different backgrounds, I've found it a great pleasure to share the joy of learning and experiencing something new!
【Guiding Areas】
<Basic> Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Fuji, Yokohama, Nikko, and other neighboring areas from Tokyo
I’m a specialist in Tokyo and Kamakura as I have lived and enjoyed walking a lot in those cities for decades. To be honest, even after all my years here, I still enjoy exploring like a tourist as Tokyo is such an enormous city with great diversity and is constantly changing.
Kamakura is a historical small city with nice beaches and hills and lots of hidden spots of beauty. Almost every time I go out, I feel I’m still making new discoveries. That’s why I cannot stop exploring.
I would take you to some neighboring areas like Hakone, Yokohama, Nikko, and Mt. Fuji area (Lake Kawaguchiko), etc.
<Based on Requests > *if my transportation & accommodation are covered
Nagoya, Kyoto, Nagano(Nagano city, Snow Monkey park, Kisoji trail, etc.), Hida (Takayama, Shirakawa-go), Kanazawa, Oita, Yamagata, Akita, etc.
My original family is from Nagoya, so I know their culture and even their language(dialect) well. Later in my life, I have lived in Oita, Kyushu(far south west of Tokyo) for nearly 10 years and traveled a lot in Kyushu. I love traveling Tohoku, the northern Japan area, too. I’ve planned and enjoyed visiting many of those local areas in the north, too. So, I could share those experiences with you even while having tours in Tokyo or online.
【Personality and others】
- I love meeting people, listening and talking to them.
- I'm friendly and caring, I hope:)
- I love nature and enjoy hiking and skiing.
- I love seasonal flowers and good local food.
- You will see a lot about Japanese culture, nature, and lifestyle with me.
What has made you decide to come to Japan, by the way? Is it its scenic beauties, exotic culture, history, food, anime, or what else? Is it your business that has brought (or will bring) you here? Let me have a clue and customize your tour. I will make the best tour suggestion for you.
Why don’t you contact me now? I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you! Arigato-gozaimas!
Reviews
Josh K.
“Fun, full day tour with a true professional”
We spent a full day with Tomoko exploring Kamakura and Enoshima as a daytrip from Tokyo. Tomoko knows this area extremely well so she had everything planned out and adapted logistics as the day unfolded. She provided just the right amount and type of commentary on places visited and brought us to a very traditional soba&tempura restaurant for lunch. She is a natural conversationalist and will feel like a friend by end of the day. Her pre-tour communications are extensive as well. We had a great time with Tomoko and saw everything imagined and then some. We recommend Tomoko 100%, 10 out of 10, a top notch tour guide.
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Tomoko H.
Thank you for the wonderful review. The Kamakura tour with you and your family was so much fun. Even with jet lag, everyone walked so well! The beautiful bamboo temple, Hachimangu Shrine, lunch and shopping, the Great Buddha and Hase-dera Temple, and then the caves carved by the waves on the back side of Enoshima (where the dragon lives!)—I’d secretly worried we might not make it that far. Since you told me your family’s specific requests and preferences in advance, it made planning much easier. I appreciate your cooperation. Thank you, Joshi, Amy, Caroline, and Adelaide!
Amy H.
“GowithTomoko! ”
Tomoko is a wonderful person and amazing tour guide. Not only do you get an excellent tour guide but you also get the experience of meeting her and spending time with Tomoko! Tomoko has great energy, knows so much about Japan and communicates the information in an interesting and clear manner. Tomoko is enthusiastic and knows how to maneuver around the city to best use the time. She is flexible and paced the day to meet our needs. She will tailor the tour to whatever you want. We wish we would have had more time to spend with Tomoko and will recommend her to all of our friends and colleagues who want a guide in Japan. When we come back we will definitely see her. And I know we'll stay in touch until our paths meet again.
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Tomoko H.
Hi Amy, thank you for writing this review so soon after returning from your long trip to Japan—which lasted about three to four weeks. I really enjoyed spending time with you and Doug at the start of your journey, and I was happy we were able to talk so much about San Diego—a city that holds special memories for me. It was also a fun memory how Doug’s comment led to us touring the inside of the National Diet (Capitol) Building. The schoolchildren on the field trip were so cute, weren’t they? I have another hair salon appointment this weekend. I fondly remember how flexible you were with my schedule last month—thanks to that, I didn’t have to go on a two-week college student tour with my hair all a mess. Thank you for the wonderful review. I look forward to seeing you again. Until then, take care and keep in touch! - Tomoko:)
Beatrix O.
“A real first day in Tokyo!”
I came to Tokyo with my elderly mother and a healthy amount of anxiety about getting it right. Tomoko dissolved both. Communication beforehand was prompt and warm; the itinerary felt custom-built rather than off-the-shelf. She has a rare instinct for pace — knowing when to linger and when to move on — and a quiet attentiveness that my mother noticed and appreciated. And she is genuinely brilliant company: conversation wandered from sumo to food to Japanese culture with the ease of someone who loves the city and loves talking about it. If your first day in Tokyo is in Tomoko's hands, it's in very good hands.
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Tomoko H.
Thank you so much, dear Beatrix, for taking the time to post such a wonderful review despite surely being very busy after returning to the UK with your mother. I really enjoyed spending time with you, such a kind and thoughtful daughter, and your mother, who has the heart of a child full of curiosity and humour. We took the train and subway to Meiji Shrine and Asakusa, and we had a great time exploring all kinds of food with you. At the monjayaki restaurant, it was funny how we seemed to be the ones attracting other customers. The monjayaki was better than it looked, wasn't it? Wishing the best to you and your sweet mom, Maureen! - Tomoko
$422/ per group
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