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Sacred Kamakura: Great Buddha, Serene Temples & Local Flavors

The Great Buddha of Kamakura at Kotoku-in Temple.

Lots of cultural souvenirs available.

Each season offers a different charm.

The iconic Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.

Kamakura, Japan’s first samurai capital.

There’s a special kind of beauty on rainy days!

Interested in wearing a kimono? Tell me anytime!

Hasedera is one of Kamakura’s most charming spots.

Hase-dera: one place with many charms.

Sacred Kamakura: Great Buddha, Serene Temples & Local Flavors

Highlights

Joined 2025

Nahomi O.

5.00 / 5

(4 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kamakura

English, Japanese (Native)

6 hours

Private tour (only you and Nahomi O.)

Up to 6 people

This highlight tour of Kamakura lets you experience both its historical roots and modern-day charm all at once. We’ll visit not only the city’s most famous landmarks, but also walk through narrow backstreets filled with everyday life, giving you a well-rounded experience of Kamakura’s history, Buddhist culture, shopping, scenery, and local lifestyle — all in one compact and memorable journey.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

10:00 AM

Meeting Point

Kamakura Station (Flexible: Your Hotel or Preferred Location)

- I'm based on the Miura Peninsula, so meeting at a nearby station allows us to start the tour at a time that suits you best. However, if the timing works, I'm also happy to meet you at your hotel or preferred location in Tokyo or Yokohama. Just send me a message in advance so we can coordinate the details.

10:10 AM

Engakuji Temple

Engakuji Temple is one of the most historic and beautiful Zen temples located right next to Kita-Kamakura Station, just one stop before Kamakura. Built in the 13th century after the Mongol invasions, it was dedicated to honoring the souls of those who died on both sides. Compared to central Kamakura, it’s much quieter and more peaceful, making it a perfect place to start the day with a short briefing for our tour.

11:00 AM

Lunch at Komachi Street

A lively shopping alley filled with local snacks, handmade crafts, and great people-watching. We’ll enjoy some shopping and local street food, and when you find a spot that appeals to you, we’ll take a break for an early lunch. Please let me know if there’s something specific you’d like to try.

12:30 PM

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

Kamakura’s iconic shrine, dedicated to the samurai protector deity. It will be great for learning Shinto basics and taking beautiful photos. If you have an interest in Buddhist statues, we can make a stop at the nearby museum as well.

01:30 PM

Getting to Hase Area: By Enoden Train, local bus or a Scenic Walk

To reach the Hase area, we have a few options:

- Enoden Train: A charming 2-car train that winds its way through residential neighborhoods. It’s fun and nostalgic, but often crowded with tourists.

- Walking: If the weather is nice and you enjoy exploring, we can walk about 2 kilometers (around 30 minutes at a relaxed pace) through quiet backstreets lined with traditional houses.

- Local Bus: A simple and comfortable alternative.

02:00 PM

Kotoku-in Temple (Great Buddha)

One of Japan’s most famous landmarks—the massive bronze Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Kamakura)—sits calmly under the open sky. This statue, Japan’s second tallest seated Buddha, stands 37 feet 5 inches (11.4 meters) tall. Cast in 1252, it was originally housed inside a large wooden hall. However, that hall was destroyed by natural disasters over time. Since the late 15th century, the Buddha has stood out in the open air, making it a truly unique and impressive sight.

02:30 PM

Hase-dera Temple

Walk to nearby Hase-dera, one of the prettiest temples in Kamakura. It is famous for its golden eleven-headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, which stands 30 feet 2 inches (9.18 meters) tall.

Known as the “Temple of Flowers,” Hase-dera boasts beautiful seasonal blooms throughout the year and features many charming smiling Jizo statues in the precincts, making it very photogenic. It is especially popular during the hydrangea season.

03:30 PM

Tea Break (Flexible)

We can take a break at a café in the Hase area, depending on your preference.

04:00 PM

Local Bus Ride

We’ll take a local bus to return to Kamakura Station.

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

What‘s included

- Tour Guiding

- Meals and drinks for the guide (lunch, dinner, or cafés)

- Any entrance or admission fees

What‘s not included

- Meals or drinks you order at lunch, dinner, or cafés

- Transportation costs to/from Kamakura and within Kamakura

*The one-way fare from Tokyo Station to Kamakura Station on the Yokosuka Line is 950 yen. If you choose to ride in the Green Car (first-class seat), it costs an additional 1,000 yen per person one way. So, if you take the Green Car for both directions, the total cost will be 3,900 yen per person. I recommend using the Green Car for a more comfortable and relaxing journey. I will support you with the travel route and purchasing Green Car tickets, so if you have any concerns, please feel free to message me in advance.

Tour Important Information

*Some of the temples and shrines in the standard itinerary have stairs or uneven paths, so they might not be suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.

If you need step-free access, just let me know in advance. I’ll be happy to adjust the route and itinerary to make it easier for you.

*Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.

Important message from the supplier

The best day and time for the tour may vary depending on the destination. I’d be happy to adjust the schedule based on your interests and preferences, so please feel free to contact me to communicate.

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 2025

Nahomi O.

5.00 / 5

(4 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Nahomi O.

Hello! I’m a local guide based in the Miura Peninsula, a beautiful coastal area just south of Tokyo. I’ve been living here for nearly 10 years, surrounded by the sea, fields, and a peaceful way of life.

The Miura Peninsula has many unique towns. Kamakura is an old capital where Japan’s first samurai government began. Yokosuka has long been a base for the Japanese Navy, and today it is a special mix of American and Japanese naval cultures. Misaki & Jogashima (Miura City) is a quiet fishing and farming town, very different from busy Tokyo. Hayama is a beautiful town with a summer house of the Japanese Imperial Family.

Through my tours, I want to show not only the famous places but also everyday life in Japan—especially how people live in small towns outside the big city. I hope you can feel the calm, kindness, and beauty of local life.

I’d love to show you the slower, more local side of Japan.

Let’s explore together!

Reviews

Vinod V.

5 / 5

Dec 15, 2025

Private Winter Mt. Fuji Tour

Dec 15, 2025

Kanagawa

9 hours

Customized

“An unforgettable, stunning Mount Fuji tour”

We had a fantastic Mount Fuji trip with Nahomi. Everything was well organized from start to finish, making the day smooth and enjoyable. Our guide Nahomi was friendly, knowledgeable, and shared great insights along the way. The views were absolutely breathtaking. Highly recommended!

Nahomi O.

Thank you so much for booking my tour this time! I had a wonderful time as well, and truly enjoyed exploring quiet and mystical places away from Tokyo with you. It was a pleasure sharing those moments together. I’m really looking forward to welcoming you back to Japan again soon. Please send my best wishes to your family!

Brandon S.

5 / 5

Dec 12, 2025

Retro Harbor & Island Escape from Tokyo – Misaki & Jogashima

Dec 12, 2025

Kanagawa

5 hours

“A picturesque seaside town and island tour!”

We booked a tour with Nahomi to get away from the bustle of Tokyo and were taken on a beautiful tour of Japan’s coast and the hidden gem that is Jogashima island! The tour itself took us through some local shrines, coffee shops, and a local eatery for fresh seafood before taking a ferry to hike through Jogashima island. Everywhere we visited felt genuine and local to the area. Jogashima had amazing views and fascinating rock formations that we hiked across, it was great for photos to bring back home! As a tour guide, Nahomi was incredibly accommodating: taking in all of our personal interests and preferences and integrating them into the Misaki city tour as much as possible. My traveling companion was a bit of a picky eater but Nahomi was able to find restaurants that suited and even impressed his restricted palate. Additionally, being driven around the Misaki area to see the farmlands was a refreshing break from the constant cityscape of Tokyo! I would highly recommend booking Nahomi as a tour guide for the Misaki area. She is extremely knowledgeable on the local area and was able to give us very detailed itineraries on how to reach the city from Tokyo by train. As a tour guide her english skills are excellent and a splendid communicator. We greatly enjoyed our time talking with her throughout the tour. I would book Nahomi again as a tour guide for other areas around Tokyo for my next trip!

Nahomi O.

Brandon, thank you so much for visiting Jogashima and Misaki Port with me this autumn! And thank you for your thoughtful review, it truly means a lot to me. I really appreciate you taking the time to share it, especially with your busy schedule. I could tell how genuinely interested you are in our culture and history, and how sincerely you try to understand them. I’m so happy that you came to love this place as well. I would love to explore more wonderful places and experiences in Japan with you again, especially ones you haven’t discovered yet! I'm looking forward seeing you soon!

Ellen K.

5 / 5

Sep 26, 2025

Sacred Kamakura: Great Buddha, Serene Temples & Local Flavors

Sep 26, 2025

Kamakura

6 hours

“We had a engaging day”

Nahomi is an exceptional guide and professional: flexible, creative, excellent English, knows her subject.

Nahomi O.

Ellen, I really enjoyed discovering Tokyo’s hidden charms with you the other day. Thank you for writing a review—it was very encouraging! If you have any questions about the places we visited, feel free to contact me anytime! I’m looking forward to seeing you again.