Name: Kamakura Guided Tours
Brand: GoWithGuide
Rating: 5.0 (216 reviews)

Japan

Kamakura

Our local guides are ready to help you plan, customize and realize your ideal tour in Kamakura. All GoWithGuide guides are real locals who know the area on a deep and personal level, and they can’t wait to share their knowledge with you.

When traveling, everyone wants to get the most bang out of their buck. How to do that? Ask the right person to be your tour guide, of course! As opposed to fixed itineraries that are too formal and geared towards large groups, arranging a trip with the help of a local guide will mean the trip will be about what YOU want to see and do.

Go ahead and send a message to one (or several!) of our local guides. They would love to show you their Kamakura!

Local Tour Guides in Kamakura

When unable to travel, bring travel to the comfort of your house! Sometimes it is difficult to physically travel to your destination, that’s where virtual guided tours become a perfect alternative.

You can find all sort of activities and tours offered by GoWithGuide’s local guides: cooking classes, history lessons, walking tours, interaction with locals, exploration of the wilderness.. and much more! So let our local Kamakura guides share their part of the world with you.

Connect with the guide virtually, and then simply to sit back, relax with your favorite beverage and enjoy the tour!

Kamakura Virtual Tours & Experiences

Whether it’s your first time to Kamakura or you are back to discover more, a good tour guide can make all the difference. Enjoy the best of what Kamakura has to offer, without all the fuss of planning everything by yourself!

You can pick your favorite itinerary from the Kamakura tours offered by our local guides, but feel free to ask for customizations based on your preferences. We want to help travelers get the most out of their trips, and we believe a good tour with a local guide is the best way to ensure that.

There is so much to see and do in Kamakura, and the best way to get the most out of your time there is to have a local expert with you. GoWithGuide is committed to delivering unforgettable tour experiences, so let us help you create your next favorite memory.

Kamakura Private Tour Guide

Travel like a real local. With our lineup of varied tours we want to help you customize and realize your ideal tour in Kamakura. Our guides can arrange for you to visit areas specific to your interests, so there will be no filler in the itinerary!

Browse all the tours we offer in Kamakura, and find the perfect one for you. The tours come in a variety of categories and lengths, so chances are you will be able to find the tour for you. Looking for something you couldn’t find in our lineup? Go ahead and send a message to one of the guides, they will create your tour for you!

Teaming up with a local guide and getting their help in planning the itinerary is the smart way to travel, so let them sort everything out for you.

Private Tours in Kamakura

Are you in need of transportation on your trip to Kamakura? On this page you can find pick-up, airport transfers and chauffeur (Private car charter with professional drivers).

We meticulously check all drivers and Car Companies you find on this page to make sure they have all the necessary documentation and qualifications to run transfer services for their area. Choose from the available listings, or message one of the suppliers directly to inquire about their services.

Having reliable and good quality transportation is an important but often overlooked part of planning a trip. Let our Kamakura car & van service providers take care of transportation for you, so you can enjoy your sightseeing!

Kamakura Private Cars, Van & Transfers

Let me customize your one-day tour based on your requests or preference adding my recommendation out of my experience regarding the season, weather, and so on. In terms of time, one-day trip will allow you to pick up two areas out of the five ( The areas Ⅰto Ⅴ, written below) in addition to the central area which is the must -stop in Kamakura.

Area Ⅰ: West Side of Kamakura Station  
Area Ⅱ: Hase Area  
Area Ⅲ: Kita-Kamakura Area (North Kamakura)
Area Ⅳ: Kanazawa Street Area  
Area Ⅴ: Zaimokuza Beach Area
 
Central Area: Including Hachiman-gu Shrine, Komachi-dori Shopping Street,  JR Kamakura Station. 

Your destinations are supposed to be two areas of your choice from the five, plus, central area. 
If you ask me, I'd be delighted to show my special lists..

★Plan 1: Shrines Where I Feel Mystical Energy Flow that Gives Me Good Luck and Power
1. Hachiman-gu Shrine (in the Central Area )
2. Zeniarai Benten ( in Area Ⅰ)
3. Sasuke-inari Shrine ( in Area Ⅰ)
< A 20-minute walk from Kamakura St. to this area. Wearing comfortable shoes is recommended.>

★Plan 2:  Overwhelmingly Big Buddhist Statues that I Love in  Kamakura
1.  Great Amida Buddha in Kotoku-in Temple ( in Area Ⅱ)
2.  Kannon Bodhisattva (Goddess of Marcy)  in Hase-dera Temple ( in Area Ⅱ)
< A 10-minute ride on a tram train from Kamakura St. to this area.>

★Plan 3:  Soothing Buddhist Statues That Give Me Peace of Mind While Facing
1.  Sakyamuni Wearing a Crown in Engaku-ji Temple ( in Area Ⅲ)
2.  Standing Sho Kannon Bodhisattva in Tokei-ji Temple  ( in Area Ⅲ)
< Getting off the train from Tokyo at Kita-Kamakura St will do.>

★Plan 4: Temples Surrounded by Quiet Gardens or Woods that Refresh Me
1. Jomyo-ji Temple ( in Area Ⅳ)---If you want to have a tea time, they serve a bowl of green tea with a dry sweet in the Japanese tea ceremony style. 
2. Hokoku-ji Temple ( in Area Ⅳ)
3  Sugimoto-dera Temple ( in Area Ⅳ)
< A 10-minute ride on a bus from Kamakura St. to this area.>

★Plan 5: Temples with open space in the Huge Precincts that Make Me Forget the Busy Everyday Life
1. Komyo-ji Temple (in Area Ⅴ）--- If you are interested, they provide a set of genuine Buddhist monk's vegetarian meal (only lunch) for around 5000 yen/person. Reservation is necessary. < 10-minute ride on a bus from Kamakura St. to this temple.>
2. Myohon-ji Temple (in Area Ⅴ） < 15-minute walk from Kamakura St. to this temple.>

There are more spots that are worth visiting other than above in each area.

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Kamakura is an attractive tourist destination that is located in the south of Tokyo. Only a one-hour train ride from Tokyo takes you to this beautiful ancient capital. About 800 years ago, a leader of samurai warriors started ruling the country and the center of his military government was situated in Kamakura. 

There are a lot of old temples and shrines that creates its distinctive character and historically meaningful fascination. Kamakua was also home to Zen Buddhism that was widely received as the spiritual pillar for samurai warriors 

The city is surrounded by the scenic beauty of the ocean and mountains, and you can enjoy plenty of flowers in each season. I'm looking forward to sharing them with you. 

Kamakura, a home to samurai culture and Zen Buddhism, is neighborhood of where I live and one of my living rooms  that I'd really love to invite you to. I am also happy to share some exclusive info that only local residents know, as I show you around the place.




Hiro's Kamakura As-you-like One-day Tour

Explore the connection between the Samurai Government and Buddhism!

You could easily transfer to each scenic spot hopping on and off the train station. On the way to Enoshima Island, you could see the beautiful view of Mt.Fuji on sunny day and get in touch with the old fashioned shopping street to Main shrine. On the top of the island via the payable escalator recommended, the ocean view of Sagami Bay is overwhelming. On the way back, there is no escalator available to get back to the entrance. So, everybody shall walk the many steps down and see the wide view of Kamakura area..  At lunch, you have the local cuisine made from local fish and vegetables of Kamakura origin as well as Kamakura beer if you like.  Great Buddha, Amida Buddha sits in the open air and the height is approx. 13.35 meters and is the renowned bronze statue. 

This Is Your Half-Day Tour In Kamakura

One-day tour from Kita-Kamakura to Enoshima

Meeting Point=Kamakura Station at 10:00 (About 60 min train ride from Tokyo Station＝￥945)

1. Kamakura Hachimangu Shrine (5 min. walk from Kamakura Station)
 Highlights: Experience Shinto rituals / See the remains of the wars in 12 C / Learn about the architecture of the shrine / Draw Omikuji (fortune telling sheet) with a charm

2. Great Buddha (5 min. train ride to Hase Station from Kamakura Station) / Transportation fee=￥200, Admission fee=￥300 (adult) ￥150 (child)
 Highlights: See the impressive body of the statue of Amida as well as some parts like hair, nose and eyes closely / Experience the tour inside the body (optional, admission fee=￥50) / Learn the history and the reason of its construction

3. Hasedera Temple (5 min. walk from Great Buddha) / Admission fee=￥400 (adult) ￥200 (child)
 Highlights: See the elegant and holly statue of 11-headed Kannon / Stroll the beautiful precinct of the temple / Experience the Buddhist rituals to attain the enlightenment / See the view of Kamakura city and Yuigahama beach from the observatory

4. Komachidori Street (5 min. train ride back to Kamakura Station from Hase Station) Transportation fee=￥200
 Take a tour of restaurants and food shops to enjoy foods, such as Japanese noodles, tempura, fried tofu, sweets and so on / Buy or window-shop souvenirs  

5. Cruise of Yokosuka Naval Port (20 min. train ride to Yokosuka Station from Kamakura Station) / Transportation Fee=￥230, Boarding Ticket=On weekdays ￥1,800 (adult) ￥900 (child) Free (infants) / On weekends ￥2,000 (adult) ￥1,000 (child) Free (infant) 
 See various types of powerful warships and other vessels of US Navy and Japanese Self Defense Forces including aegis cruisers and aircraft carriers / See the oldest docks and a car factory on the shore / Learn about the history of the port and Pacific War

6. Memorial Ship Mikasa (5 min. walk from the pier of the cruise) / Admission fee=￥600 (adult) ￥300 (senior high school student) Free (infant)
 Take a tour of the upper deck and main deck of the battleship to see exhibitions of the main gun, the navigation bridge, admiral's saloon and so on / Enjoy V/R Battle of Sea of Japan and the whole structure of the ship on a digital screen / Learn the history of the sea battles in the modern era

Ending Point=Yokosukachuo Station of Keihin Kyuko Line at 17:00 (About 60 min. train ride back to Tokyo =￥825)





Kamakura & Yokosuka: History of War and Peace Tour

Kamakura One-day Highlight Tour

Experience the Charm of Kamakura in Half day

1. Experience some rituals of Shintoism, Japanese indigenous religion, at Hachimangu Shrine.
2. Enjoy eating local specialties in Kamakura.
3. Take a tour inside of the statue of Great Buddha to learn its architecture.
4. Observe the magnificent view of Shonan Beach from the top of the tower in Enoshima Island.
5. Visit the aquarium to make yourself healed by seeing a great variety of sea creatures and their show.

Kamakura & Enoshima: It's Shownan Time!

Do you know a Japanese word, "Bushido" or samurai spirit? Its origin was in Kamakura. About 800 years ago, Kamakura was the capital of Japan. The leader of samurai warriors (Shogun) established samurai's domination over the country putting an end to the previous aristocracy in Kyoto, and Kamakura became the center of the first samurai military government. Samurai warriors were totally different creatures from the aristocrats. Having their main workplace in battlefields, the warriors were those who never had a fear of death. They didn't cling to life. They willingly devoted their lives to their jobs. How come they could get that extreme mindset? The secret was Zen Buddhism. It was the basics of Bushido. Zen was widely received in the Kamakura Period and deeply influenced the entire Japanese culture eventually. Let's find Zen culture through visiting iconic Zen temples, Zen gardens, and experiencing Japanese distinctive beauty of so-called Wabi and Sabi world in this ancient capital city.

Kamakura "Zen Culture" Finding Tour

Important Places to know the real history site of Kamakura!

===1. Kamakura Hachimangu Shrine 
    Highlights: Learn about the history and culture of the first shogun's capital / Experience Shinto rituals / See the architecture of the shrine /  
                     Draw omikuji (fortune telling sheet) with a charm (200 yen, optional)

===2. Komachidori Street
                     Take a tour of restaurants and food shops along the street to have lunch.  Especially some Kamakura's specialties such as 
                     Shirasu-don (a bowl of rice topped with young sardine and fresh seafood), Daibutsu-yaki (sponge cake shaped like Great 
                     Buddha) and so on.  Looking for souvenirs, like Kamakura-bori (Kamakura's wooden artifacts carved in relief), Hatosabure 
                    (cookies shaped like a dove, the Hachimangu's symbol), etc. 

===3. Kotokuin Temple (Admission fee=300 yen for adult, 150 yen for child)
    Highlights: See the impressive body of the large stature of Amida Buddha / Learn the characteristics of each part of the image / Experience 
                      the tour inside the body to learn more about its construction (Admission fee=50 yen: optional)

===4. Hasedera Temple (Admission fee=400 yen for adult, 200 yen for child)
    Highlights: See the elegant and shining stature of 11-headed Kannon / Stroll the precinct of the temple designed like Pure Land / 
                      Experience some Buddhist rituals for attaining enlightenment / See the view of Kamakura city and Yuigahama beach from the 
                     observatory  


Magical History Tour in First Samurai Capital

Minamoto-no Yoritomo established the first samurai regime in Kamakura, and bacame the first samurai Shogun. He built Hachiman-gu shrine, where you may offer a prayer at the main hall, draw an oracle, write a votive tablet, look over the view of the downtown Kamakura and lots more.  The big gingko tree of 1000-year-old fell in 2010, but shoots are now sprouting. In Kamakura you can have a bird eye view about the ancient city.



Kamakura Full Day

This tour features the historical heritages.

Engaku-ji was built to commemorate both the deaths of Mongolian and Japanese soldiers in 1282. The temple is also famous for its two national treasures: the “Grand Bell” cast in 1301 and the “Relic Hall” that is believed to hold Buddha’s tooth. The temple was sponsored by the 8th regent Hojo Tokimune.

Take pictures at the impressive Jyochi-ji entrance. In the main hall you’ll see three worlds’ Buddhas, which are Amitabha, Sakyamuni and Maitreya representing the past, present and future respectively. There is a statue of Hotei, God of Happiness. Rub his belly to get energy and happiness.

At Meigetsu-in, you’ll smell the fresh green fragrance and beautiful blue flowers in early summer.  The back yard will be open twice a year, in early summer and fall.
I tell you the history of Tokei-ji on its precinct.

At Kencho-ji, you’ll see 760-year-old juniper trees grown from seeds sown by a founder priest from the Sung Dynasty. The ground bell, our national treasure, is one of the 3 big bells in Kamakura. A dragon is drawn on the ceiling of the lecture hall. The temple was sponsored by the 5th regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, Hojo Tokiyori.

We also visit Tokei-j, Ennou-ji, and after the trail Zuisen-ji and the old site of Yofuku-ji. 

Kita-Kamakura Wonder Day-2

Best of Kamakura Private Tour

Discover Kamakura: Temples, the Great Buddha & Culinary Delights

In this tour, you will experience totally different atmosphere from any other tourist spots. One of the places I will take you to is not a tourist spot but a place to experience real tea ceremony. Therefore, you will feel depth of Japanese culture and after finishig this tea ceremony experience, your spirit is very much different from one before. It is hard to explain by a word but I am sure if you are interested in Japanese culture, this experience will enhance your spirit. 
As a tourist spots, you will visit Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu and Big Buddah which cannot be missed. 
Kencho-ji temple represents Zen sect in Buddhism. Zen sect is different from other sects in Buddhism and emphasis self-reliance. This temple is very simple but elegant.
 

Traditional Japan in Kamakura

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Top Kamakura, Japan Private Tours and things to do: Visit Kamakura, Kamakura with Local Guides. Check reviews, photos, request an itinerary, plan a day trip or walking tour.

Art, Culture, & Historical Kamakura Private Tours

Hiro's Kamakura As-you-like One-day Tour

Hiro's Kamakura As-you-like One-day Tour

Explore the connection between the Samurai Government and Buddhism!

Explore the connection between the Samurai Government and Buddhism!

This Is Your Half-Day Tour In Kamakura

This Is Your Half-Day Tour In Kamakura

One-day tour from Kita-Kamakura to Enoshima

One-day tour from Kita-Kamakura to Enoshima

Kamakura & Yokosuka: History of War and Peace Tour

Kamakura & Yokosuka: History of War and Peace Tour

Kamakura One-day Highlight Tour

Kamakura One-day Highlight Tour

Experience the Charm of Kamakura in Half day

Experience the Charm of Kamakura in Half day

Kamakura & Enoshima: It's Shownan Time!

Kamakura & Enoshima: It's Shownan Time!

Kamakura "Zen Culture" Finding Tour

Kamakura "Zen Culture" Finding Tour

Important Places to know the real history site of Kamakura!

Important Places to know the real history site of Kamakura!

Magical History Tour in First Samurai Capital

Magical History Tour in First Samurai Capital

Kamakura Full Day

Kamakura Full Day

Kita-Kamakura Wonder Day-2

Kita-Kamakura Wonder Day-2

Best of Kamakura Private Tour

Best of Kamakura Private Tour

Discover Kamakura: Temples, the Great Buddha & Culinary Delights

Discover Kamakura: Temples, the Great Buddha & Culinary Delights

Traditional Japan in Kamakura

Traditional Japan in Kamakura

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