Just over an hour from Tokyo, you can visit an ancient capital with a completely different history.
Kamakura was a town that became the center of politics under Minamoto no Yoritomo in the 12th century. Kamakura is a town of samurai, and Zen was also loved by the samurai. Kamakura is also the city where Zen Buddhism was brought to Japan and widely spread.
Why not walk me through Kamakura, a town nurtured by history and culture?
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Shinagawa Station
- At the triangle clock of the central Entrance of JR Shinagawa station,
Kita Kamakura
Board the Yokosuka Line from Shinagawa to Kita Kamakura station.
Engakuji Temple (Rinzai sect)
Just a short walk after getting off at Kita-Kamakura Station, you will find Engakuji Temple. It is a temple of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism, which ranks second in the Kamakura Gozan. They founded it in 1282. There are two national treasures: Shariden and Hongjong.
Jochiji Temple (Rinzai sect)
Jochiji Temple is a quaint old temple at the top of long stone steps. Founded in the second half of the 13th century
At this time, the Hojo clan was powerful and Zen Buddhism spread widely.
Meigetsu-in Temple
Famous for its hydrangeas, the area is well-known for its 2,500 hydrangeas. They founded it in the middle of the 12th century. Nowadays, we can enjoy ourselves watching many flowers in each season, transporting us to a peaceful world. Strolling through the dry landscape garden, tea room, and stone-paved approach is fun.
Kenchoji Temple (Rinzai sect)
It is the first of the Kamakura Gozan and Japan's first full-fledged Zen temple. They founded it in 1253. The pure and strict Zen of the Song Dynasty was brought to Japan as it was when the high priest Ranki Daolong was invited from China (Song Dynasty) at the time. In addition to the temple bell, which is a national treasure, you can also enjoy the garden as well as important cultural properties such as the Sanmon Gate, Buddha Hall, and Karamon Gate.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, built by Minamoto no Yoritomo, who founded the Kamakura Shogunate, is one of the symbols of Kamakura. It is the guardian deity of Kamakura Bushi. In front of the shrine is the wide approach road, Wakamiya Oji. Yabusame, held at the annual autumn festival, is especially famous.
Lunch
There are many popular restaurants around Kamakura Station. Now, what kind of lunch should we have? You'll get lost.
French Fierte
Bistro Homme Kamakura
Hamburger Wonderburg
Japanese food umi Kamakura
Bistro Orange
Chinese Kamakura food Shokuyuki
Kamakura Station
Take the Enoden train.
The Enoden train, which runs along the coast, is very popular with tourists because of its retro cars and the wonderful scenery from the windows.
Please come and enjoy the train.
Hasedera Temple
It is said to have been built in the 8th century (actually it is said to have been built in the 13th century.) The principal image is an 11-faced Kannon Bodhisattva statue (9.18m) of the Jodo sect.
Also known as Hydrangea Temple, the hydrangeas are beautiful. There is also a viewing platform with a spectacular view of the ocean.
Kotoku-in (Kamakura Great Buddha)
When you think of Kamakura, you think of the Great Buddha. The Amida Nyorai statue, a national treasure, is a must-see. You can go inside the Great Buddha for a little while. Please come and join us.
Enoshima
Originated from a cave on 552 islands One of Japan's three major Benzaiten (Miyajima in Aki, Chikubujima in Omi)
Sports such as swimming and surfing are popular in the summer
Shinagawa station
Ending Point
Shinagawa Station
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Guide fees
Transportation fees, admission- fees, and meal fees during the tour. (for a guide)
Transportation fees per person are as follows,
JR train ( Shinagawa - Kitakamakura ¥736、Fujisawa- Shinagawa ¥770)and Enoden (Kamakura- Hase ¥200、Hase- Enoshima ¥260 、Enoshima-Fujisawa ¥220)
Total is ¥2,186.
Admission fee total ¥2,500
(Enkakuji, Jyochiji, Meigetu-in, Kenchoji, Koutoku-in and Enoshima sea candle )
Lunch for guide ¥1,000-2,500
* This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
* Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Meeting place, departure time, visiting places, etc. can be changed. I will consult with you. Please feel free to contact me.
My Name is Naoya.
I was born in Tokyo in 1952.
After my graduation from Keio University, I joined a Japanese bank.
Mainly I was assigned international business and stayed in London for three years.
At the age of 52, I moved to a Japanese manufacturer company and had worked for 11 years.
As a personnel manager, I engaged in hiring Indian graduates.
Then for two years, I went to Tashkent in Uzbekistan as a JICA senior volunteer.
I taught "corporate finance" at Tashkent Financial Institute in English.
I got the guide license in 2017, After I came back to Tokyo, I am working as a volunteer guide,
especially in Shinjuku.
I hope to create special and deep tours in which tourists are interested but by now they were not
able to gain access to.
For example; Visit to various Universities, Visit to narrow streets in Tokyo, Visit to feel Edo (Now and Then)
My hobby is playing the guitar. I hope we are in peace through music.
I am also interested in Art, History and cooking.
My major subject is economics and finance.
Samantha F.
“Amazing Guide and great tour”
Today is our 7th day with Naoya, he is our best guide ever! We have been on many tours and can honestly tell you we highly recommend him. Today we went to Hakone but had to cut our tour a bit short because we had an early shinkansen to get to kyoto. We had just enough time for an amazing lunch at Pola Museum and then tour this amazing museum. A tiny bit of shopping for us and then off on our shinkansen to our next destination. Naoya personalized each day to what we wanted, gave us great advice and was so informative about all aspects of Japanese life. I don't usually write reviews but I have every tour with Naoya because he is such a gem.
Naoya U.
Hi, Samantha It was our last day together, but it seems you were satisfied. Thank you for your nice comment. I cut our plans short because you were heading to Kyoto, but I think it was good because the weather was unpredictable. The heavy rain and thunder will be a memorable experience. The Pola Museum of Art's program starting today was Van Gogh. Did you learn about the relationship between the Impressionists and Japanese Ukiyo-e? It seems you were satisfied with the lunch. Please visit Japan again, and I look forward to seeing you. I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip in Japan. Thank you. Naoya Usuda
Samantha F.
“Amazing tour with amazing guide”
Another incredible day with Naoya. He took us to a very old shrine and planned it so we were able to witness an incredible moving ceremony with drums, monks, fire and chants. We were able to take part in a purification ceremony, it was wonderful to experience something so different. We briefly wandered around to different shops and bought candy from a store that has been in multiple generations. A highlight was an incredible lunch at a very authentic Japanese restaurant that was very small and we tried some local cuisine. Then we went to the Edo museum which was very informative and interesting. We loved this tour and it was very interesting! Definitely book with Naoya. He tries to personalize every tour we have taken with him!!!!!!
Naoya U.
Thank you Samantha for your wonderful comment. Today I visited the Fukagawa area. The goma prayer at Fukagawa Fudo was a valuable experience. The approach to the shrine lined with long-established shops has a nostalgic charm. Today's lunch was Fukagawa Meshi. It is soul food eaten by fishermen during the Edo period. How did you like the clams? After that, I traveled back in time and visited the streets of Edo. Edo was a city where everything was recycled. It seems that sushi used to be big. Thank you for a fun day. Naoya Usuda
Samantha F.
“Amazing Guide, best guide ever”
Naoya san is truly our best guide. We booked about 7 days with him and glad we did. He is knowledgeable, patient, kind and accommodating. He has a great sense of humor! We had to switch plans on him twice today because we were needing to stop and eat and he was very flexible. He carefully plans each day and explains the days plans and gives us lots of interesting facts. He does not overwhelm us with info which is great. We have asked him a ton of questions and he always patiently answers. We used public transportation like buses, trains and shinkansen which I preferred to keep the cost down. He realled planned a great day, lots of activities including gondola ride and pirate ship. Definitely book with him!
Naoya U.
Hi, Samanths A lot happened today, but we were able to see the beautiful Mt. Fuji at Kawaguchiko Station before catching the train to Shinjuku. Thanks to everyone's cooperation, it was a very enjoyable day. Mt. Fuji is seen from the top of the hill we climbed on the gondola. Only the top was still covered in snow. For lunch, we had houtou, a local soul food. It was filled with a variety of vegetables. How about the squash and shiitake mushrooms? And we talked about US TV movies. It was quite fun. Anyway, I was happy to see Mt. Fuji at the end of the day. Thank you for your kind words. I will do my best until the end. Naoya Usuda
$231/ per group