Things to do in Kamakura

Discover Kamakura’s historical sites, favorite local spots, and hidden gems on a private walking tour with nationally licensed guide. Choose from a 6 or 4-hour tour, whose itinerary can be customized to fit your interests. Located 1 hour from Tokyo, be introduced to some of the best spots, restaurants, and shops in Kamakura, which is home of the samurai and of great cultural importance to Japan. Visit and enter the interior of the huge Great Buddha statue, a symbol of great importance for Kamakura. Admire the is famous gardens of Hase-dera. During the rainy season (around June), 2500 colorful hydrangeas of 40 varieties bloom all at once to create a wondrous spectacle. Go to the Zeniarai Benten Shrine where legend says that when money is washed in the holy water of the shrine’s spring you will earn more money. Head to the Hokoku-ji Temple known for its splendid bamboo forest garden. Here, sample matcha tea while admiring the view of the forest.

The tour begins with pickup from your hotel in Tokyo and travels to Kamakura by train. After a 1-hour train journey arrive in Kamakura and head to the first stop of the day, Hase Temple, also known as the Temple of Flowers. At the temple admire the incredible architecture of Hase Kannon, which houses the Buddhist statue of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. Learn about this eleven faced Goddess and she represents the different phases in search of enlightenment. Outside, you can wander through the pretty gardens and see the Jizo-do Hall which boasts hundreds of small Jizo Bodhisattva statues. Continue the tour to the Kotokuin Temple next where you will find Japan’s famous Great Buddha. Marvel at the imposing 13-meter-high Great Buddha statue while you learn about its significance and history, which dates back to 1292. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, replenish your energy and enjoy lunch at one of Kamakura’s finest Japanese restaurants. After lunch, head to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, which was built in 1063 and dedicated to the Emperor Ojin, also known as the God of War. The shrine is the most important Shinto Shrine in the city and sits at the geographical center of Kamakura. As you explore the complex, soak up the tranquil atmosphere and listen to your guide’s fascinating insight into the shrine’s history. At the end of an unforgettable day in Kamakura, travel back to Tokyo by train, arriving at around 4 or 5pm.

Just one hour from Tokyo, Kamakura is the home of the samurai and is of great cultural importance to Japan. To start your day, meet your guide at your hotel, or the closest station. You will then set off to combat the Daibutsu Trail, which is 3.7 miles (6km) in length.  The Daibutsu hiking trail runs between the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) in the south and the Jochi-ji Zen temple towards the north. The trail passes by the unique “money washing” shrine at Zeniarai Benten, where you can branch off the trail and head to Jufuku-ji, the first of the 5 important zen temples in Kakamkura. Nearby, the temples of Engaku-ji and Kencho-ji can also be visited. From Kencho-ji it’s possible to continue on the Tennen trail by foot, for a longer hike which ends near the 5th and last of the five temples. The tour can be personalized according to your wishes. Just let the local partner know what you would like to experience, what time you would like to start your tour, and where you are staying. Your nationally-licensed guide will customize your six-hour tour according to your interests.

Kamakura was the ancient capital of Japan and now a major day trip spot both for Japanese and foreign tourists. Start your tour in Tokyo so you do not need to worried about transportation from/to Tokyo! Take the JR train forabout 1. 5 hrs and Eno-den, the local lovely train in Kamakura. The Great Buddha is the second largest Buddha in Japan and surprisingly it is located in open air! Hase temple is famous for flowers especially hydrangea so you can enjoy various flowers in season. There are also many interesting Budda, Kannon, and gods of wealth so you can make a wish to be rich! For lunch, you can eat typical local foods there. Kamakura is famous for seafood but if you do not like it, other food can be arranged based on your request. Then visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and enjoy shopping at Komachi street. If you would like to stay longer for shopping after the tour, you can. If you would like to visit other places like Hokokuji temple with its bamboo forest or Enoshima island, plans can be changed.

If you want to move around with your family or friends in private comfort, then my luxury car service will be the best choice for you. Compared with using public transportation, you can save physical strength and improve efficiency. For a better sightseeing experience. Kamakura used to be a center of politics in the 12th century. One of the representative sight-seeing spots is Big Image of Buddha in Kotoku-in temple. From there, you can travel almost all the famous temples . On the way to Hachiman shrine, you can enjoy shopping on KOMACHI street. While walking through the street, you can feel something different from the western culture. In this area, there are many valuable temples and shrines . You can also visit the small island located in the western part of Kamakura. There are many shrines on the island dedicated to Benten, the goddess of luck, wealth, music and knowledge. On a clear day, you can enjoy a stunning view of Mount Fuji! You can customize the itinerary of your tour or we can provide you with reference according to your preferences

Meet your guide in Tokyo and take the train to the laid-back beach town of Kamakura. Just an hour south of Tokyo, this beach-side town offers ample opportunity to learn more about Japan’s heritage and feudal history. Be paired with guides that are passionate about the place they call home and who choose to spend their free time sharing it with like-minded travelers matched to them. Follow your guide as you navigate through the intricate architecture of the area, past flame-colored torii gates marking entrances to shrines, and magnificent Buddhist temples. See the most notable attractions, including the spectacular Great Buddha and Hokokuji Bamboo Forest. Kamakura was the ancient feudal capital of Japan and had a vital role in spreading Buddhism across the country. The crown jewel of the town is the Amida Buddha at Kotoku-in, forged from bronze. See the modern side of the town by heading over to the local surf shacks and eyeing up the waves. Finish your day with a hike up to the peaceful local forest.

Use the train service in the Hakone and Kamakura regions of Japan with this 36-hour pass. Enjoy unlimited trips to popular local sightseeing destinations when you book.Enjoy access to Owakudani Volcano, Lake Ashinoko, and Hakone Open-air Museum. See Kamakura, an old samurai capital with bay views and old temples. Take unlimited rides on designated local transportation. Use your valid ticket on all Odakyu lines, most Hakone local transportation, and all Enoden Lines.

Explore Kamakura’s extraordinary past on a private tour of its temples and heritage sites. Meet your English-speaking rickshaw driver at the JR Kamakura train station to start your tour of the city. Choose from 4 different tour durations to suit your schedule, and discover this fromer Samurai capital.  On the 45-minute tour your knowledgeable guide will lead you through the center of the town, passing Otori Gate and the famous Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Return to the station through quaint side streets, past temples with expansive grounds. For a more in-depth experience, the tour of 1 hour and 10 minutes includes a stop at the Hokokuji Temple, where you can wander through the famous gardens.   With the tour of 2 hours and 10 minutes, climb all the way up to the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and enjoy the views over the city. This option also includes a visit to the Daibutsu, the Great Buddha Statue. For the most comprehensive tour of Kamakura, select the tour of 3 hours and 10 minutes, that includes all of the sights listed above.

Take a day trip from Tokyo with a private driver to the ancient coastal city of Kamakura. Discover the wooden statue in Hasa-dera temple, before traveling on to Kotoku-in to see The Great Buddha of Kamakura. Stroll in Kencho-ji, think of the spirit at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, and finish at Hokokuji. Get picked up from your accommodations in Tokyo and watch the beautiful scenery of the Japanese countryside pass by your window on the drive to Kamakura. Go over the itinerary with your driver and request any extra stops. Arrive at the temple of Hasa-dera, famous for its eleven-headed stature of the merciful goddess Kannon. Take your time to explore the grounds and admire this gilded wooden statue, one of the largest of its kind in Japan. Come face to face with Buddha at your next stop in Kotoku-in. Walk around the Great Buddha of Kamakura bronze statue and take some photos or meditate with lush, green trees all around. Take a deep breath as the big Buddha statue disappears over the horizon and immerse yourself in the ancient peace of Kencho-ji, the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan. Explore the first ranked Great Zen Temple of Kamakura from the bottom of the valley to the forested hills hidden behind. Travel from an ancient Zen temple to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura. Imagine local life in this cultural center of the city, serving as the venue to many of its most important festivals. Finish your trip with a stroll through the small but beautiful bamboo grove in the temple of Hokokuji. For a small fee, enjoy a cup of traditional matcha tea as bamboo shoots sway in the wind. It is believed the shallow caves carved into the hillside hold the ashes of the Ashikaga.

Set off towards the Kamakura area after being picked up at your hotel / your home. Your first tour destination is Kamakura station area including Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, Kamakura's most important shrine and Komachi Street, a popular shopping street where you could enjoy local food, snacks, and souvenirs. Next up is a visit of the Hasedera, where you could see the famous eleven-headed statue of Kannon that measures 9.18 meters tall and this makes it one of the largest wooden Buddhist statues in Japan. Moving on from Hasedera, go to one of the most iconic places in Kamakura, the Kotoku-in Temple with its huge bronze statue of Buddha which is called Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Kamakura). It is 11.3 meters tall and weighs around 121 tons. The last step of the tour is Enoshima, a small island located west of Kamakura. We recommend accessing it by riding the Eno-den train, an iconic single track train. On clear days you could enjoy stunning views. Enjoy sightseeing sopts, visiting shirines and shopping in Enoshima. -------------------- 【COVID-19 Safety Measures】 ・Safety screen installed between driver's seat and passengers' seats in vehicles. ・Vehicles regularly sanitized. ・Vehicles regularly ventilated for fresh air circulation. ・Regular temperature checks for all drivers. ・Drivers wears a face mask. ・Drivers regularly sanitize/wash hands. ・Drivers have a hand sanitiser for passengers.