Kamakura Highlights – Great Buddha, Temples & Samurai History
Discover Kamakura, Japan’s former samurai capital, with a local guide who lives nearby. Visit peaceful temples, the Great Buddha, beautiful gardens and lively Komachi Street while learning about Zen Buddhism, Shinto traditions and the rise of the samurai government. The private itinerary is flexible and can be adapted to your interests, walking pace, season and weather. My transportation costs during the tour are included.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Pick-up at your hotel in central Tokyo
- We will travel together by JR train to Kamakura while learning about Japanese history and daily life
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Visit Kamakura's most important Shinto shrine and discover the origins of Japan's first samurai government founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo.
Komachi Street
Stroll through Kamakura's lively shopping street filled with traditional snacks, local sweets and artisan shops.
LUNCH
Enjoy lunch at a carefully selected local restaurant.
Hase-dera Temple
Discover one of Kamakura's most beautiful temples, famous for its eleven-headed Kannon statue, seasonal flowers, caves and panoramic ocean views.
Great Buddha (Kotoku-in)
Visit Kamakura's iconic bronze Buddha and learn about its fascinating history and symbolism.
Return to Kamakura Station
Take the Enoden train or walk back through Kamakura depending on your preferences.
JR train back to Tokyo
Relax during the return journey.
Ending Point
5:00 PM Tokyo station
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
*Private guiding service
*Personalized itinerary
*My transportation costs during the tour
*Cultural explanations about Kamakura history, Buddhism, Shinto and samurai culture
*Local restaurant and shopping recommendations
*Guests’ transportation
*Admission fees
*Guests’ meals and drinks
*The guide’s meal if we eat together
*Personal expenses and souvenirs
Tour Important Information
*This private tour involves moderate walking and some stairs.
*Please wear comfortable shoes.
*The itinerary may be adjusted depending on weather, crowds, seasonal flowers and temple opening hours.
*Please let me know in advance about mobility concerns, food allergies or dietary restrictions.
*My transportation costs during the tour are included.
Important message from the supplier
Thank you for considering my tour!
I have been living in Japan for over 26 years and love sharing both the famous highlights and hidden local spots. My tours are relaxed, flexible, and can be customized to your interests. If you have any special requests or mobility concerns, please let me know before booking. I look forward to showing you the Japan I call home!
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 Nicolas M.
Hello! I am a French guide who has been living in Japan for over 26 years.
I am passionate about Japanese history, culture, traditions and everyday life. My goal is not only to show you famous landmarks, but also to help you understand the stories, customs and way of thinking that make Japan so unique.
I have more than one hundreds days of experience as a guide.
If you wish a tour but which is not already in my created tours, in my area , I can create one according to your demands.
I speak French, Japanese and English, which allows me to communicate easily with both visitors and local people.
I offer private tours in Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, all regions in Kanto like Kawaguchiko, unknown places with a wonderful view of Mont Fuji from Shuzenji, Yokohama and the beautiful coastal town of Hayama. Whether you are visiting Japan for the first time or returning to discover hidden places, I will adapt each tour to your interests and pace.
Before becoming a full-time guide, I worked as a French chef and pastry chef in Japan for many years. This experience has given me a deep appreciation of Japanese craftsmanship, hospitality and attention to detail.
I enjoy sharing history, local stories, food culture and practical insights that you won’t always find in guidebooks.
I look forward to helping you create unforgettable memories during your trip to Japan!
Reviews
Raj D.
“Fun Tokyo Food Tour”
My husband and I spent 8 hours with Nicholas touring food halls and bakeries. Our interests were particularly well-aligned as Nicholas is a professional baker and has extensive Japanese food knowledge. He was patient with our many questions and attentive to our requests, and genuinely tried to make us happy. His many cultural and language insights were an added bonus. We learned a great deal about Japanese culture, which was an unexpected surprise and one of the ultimate benefits of spending the day with Nicholas. The tour was well-designed and thorough. Highlights included traveling on the Metro and touring the basement depachikas in Ginza. It was great fun to learn about the different types of food, hear about the history of the brands selling food, and understand how local Japanese shop. Nicholas is friendly and professional and an enthusiastic source of knowledge on Japan. We ended the day eating dinner together and parted as friends. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with Nicholas and would highly recommend him.
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Nicolas M.
Thank you both for such a thoughtful review! I genuinely enjoyed exploring Tokyo’s food halls and bakeries with you—your curiosity and our shared passion for food made the day especially rewarding. I’m delighted that the cultural discoveries were just as memorable as the food itself. Ending the day over dinner and parting as friends was a real highlight for me too. I would love to welcome you back to Japan someday! Nicolas
$247/ per group
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[Highlights]Tokyo famous sightseeing spot
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