Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver
Description
Our tour is fully organized and operated by local Japanese experts. As one of the pioneers in offering private tours around Kamakura, we combine extensive experience and local insight to deliver a refined, fully customized one-day tour that stands above the rest. Step into a world where samurai once walked and temples whisper stories of centuries past. Our tour immerses you in the heart of Japan, where history, spirituality, and nature exist in perfect harmony. Visit the Great Buddha, and stroll through the serene garden of Hasedera Temple, where seasonal flowers bloom and captivate visitors throughout the year. In the afternoon you may like to feel the sea breeze at Enosima island, steeped in legends and dotted with hidden shrines. Yokohama, with its fusion of oriental and occidental cultures, provides a captivating contrast to Kamakura. Explore its highlights, including the panoramic Landmark Tower, Redbrick Warehouse, and Cup Noodle Museum, etc.
Tour Options
Itinerary
It is a gigantic bronze statue of Amida Buddha (13.5m, 44 ft.) in an open air. It is the only national treasure in Kamakura. You can enter inside the body for only 20 yen. (admission fee 200 yen per pers.)
Rated 3 stars in the Michelin travel guide. The temple is famous for having the most beautiful bamboo grove in Kamakura. You can enjoy matcha green tea and Japanese sweet in a teahouse overlooking the bamboo grove. (admission fee 600 yen per pers. including matcha and sweet) (20 to 60mn)
It’s known as a temple of flowers. You can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring, hydrangeas around late May to late June, and maple leaves in autumn. It’s also famous for 9.18 meter-tall gilded wooden eleven-headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. (admission fee 400 yen per pers.) (30 to 60mn)
This Shinto shrine is dedicated to the god of war and the god of the samurai in general. It is a popular site for weddings and is particularly beautiful during cherry blossom or azalea season. (30 to 60mn)
It is a long shopping street near Tsurugaoka Hahchimangu Shrine. The street is lined up with numbers of restaurants, cafes and shops. Some popular souvenirs are carved lacquerware (Kamakura-bori), pigeon-shaped cookies (Toshimaya Hato sable), and bean snacks (Kamakura mameya). (20 to 80mn)
It’s the oldest and the highest ranking zen temple in Kamakura. It offers meditation practice on certain dates. Zen t-shirts are sold here. (admission fee 500 yen per pers.)
It is the second important zen temple in Kamakura, famous for its large temple gate and bell. You can find the grave of famous film director Yasujiro Ozu here. There is a café within the temple compound where you can enjoy lunch, Japanese sweets, and matcha green tea and other drinks on certain dates. (admission fee 300 yen per pers.)
It is famous for blue hydrangeas from late May to late June. Many people queue up to take a picture of the circular window in the main hall which frames the scenery of the garden behind it. (admission fee 500 yen per pers.)
Shinto Shrine where is believed an increase of income by washing cahs with its holy water.
This quiet little temple served as a shelter for women who suffered abuse by their husbands and sought a divorce at a time when only men were allowed to ask for a divorce. Visitors can enjoy flowers all year round, such as plums in early spring, iris and climbing hydrangea in June, in gardens stretching back to the wooded hills.(admission fee 200 yen per pers.)
This photogenic railroad crossing having the beautiful blue sea in the background was used in the opening sequence of a famous Japanese anime “Slam Dunk”. A short photo stop is possible.
Minato Mirai 21 is a seaside urban area in central Yokohama. Some major attractions are the Landmark Tower (the second tallest building in Japan), Cosmo World amusement park, and the Red Brick Warehouses shopping center. (30 to 60mn)
It is a traditional and typical Japanese-style garden designed by a wealthy businessman. 17 precious buildings transferred from Kyoto and other places are skillfully arranged to match the beauty of the garden. (admission fee 700 yen per pers.) (30 to 90mn)
There are various attractions such as a shrine, aquarium, botanical garden, observation tower and caves. Mount Fuji can be viewed from various places if the weather permits. (30 to 150 mn)
Enjoy the panoramic scenic view of the Yokohama Bay area and bay of Tokyo from 273m (900f) high. You can also get a good view of Mt. Fuji on a clear day. (admission fee 1000 yen per pers.)
If you feel like strolling in a park with a coffee in hand, Yamashita Park would be ideal as it is beloved by the locals to come and relax. Street performers are here to entertain on the weekend. A photo stop is possible upon request
You can get a very beautiful view of the Yokohama Minato Mirai area
Another scenic viewing point and landmark of Yokohama bay area with it's The English garden. It is located next to the residential districts of the western people when Yokohama opened as one of the important international ports at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
If you want to try Chinese food while you are in Japan or to have a different feeling, the biggest Chinatown in Japan is in Yokohama. Possible to make a stop or have lunch upon request.
Run by Nisshin, the very first company that invented Cup noodles. You can learn about the story of the instant noodle, topping and making your original noodle, try different tastes from worldwide noodles, and get some original souvenirs only found in this unique place.(admission fee 500 yen per pers.) (45 to 90mn)
If you are a ramen lover, Shinyokohama ramen museum is a must go place.You can enjoy 8 different type of ramen all in one place (admission fee 310 yen per pers.)
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Don't worry if your hotel is not on the list, we do pick up from any location in Tokyo including air BnB. Please type your pick up information when you book.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The itinerary on the What to Expect is a list, please select around 4 to 6 sites.
- You can ask our guide for advice and suggestions after booking.
- Please advise for any specific dietary requirements at the time of booking, vegetarian option is available.
- The tour will not be cancelled or refunded even if some spots are not fully visible due to weather conditions. The activity schedule is subject to change/cancellation due to weather or traffic conditions.
- The price remains the same with or without the vehicle.
Reviews(68)
We had a wonderful day from start to finish and highly recommend Shun as a guide and his driver Corby to visit Kamakura and Enoshima. Having been to Kyoto, Kamakura with its beautiful shrines and temples and gardens with gorgeous flowers was a wonderful surprise so close to Tokyo. We learnt so much and saw so many beautiful places at a pleasant pace and very efficiently. June is especially a great month for the hydrangeas! It gets quite crowded so definitely go with a guide/driver and start early in peak season.
Thank you for joining our tour to Kamakura and Enosihma. We are very glad to hear your review. It was perfect timing to view such a beautiful hydrangea in Meigetsuin Temple and Hase Temple. The color of flowers were totally different between the two temples. That was a wonderful contrast. We hope you will have the chance to visit Japan again in a different season, and we would be delighted to assist you with another memorable journey! Have a good time. Shun Japan Star Travel Agency
This tour was simply exceptional, particularly for those more comfortable with an English-speaking guide and first-timers to Kamakura. Our licensed guide, Motoko, and our driver, Tak, were both top notch: very friendly, knowledgeable, and most professional in every way. Despite an unexpected typhoon on the original date of our tour, Motoko kept in constant contact with us to pick the best alternate day; and she and Tak then made sure that we didn’t miss any of the sights and were kept safe on the roads. Could not have been better; highly recommended.
Thank you so much for your kind review. It was a real pleasure spending the day with all of you in Kamakura and Enoshima. We truly enjoyed our conversations and were impressed by your curiosity, insight, sense of humor, and genuine interest in Japan! And thank you for your flexibility when the weather changed our plans. We were delighted that we could finally enjoy the beautiful hydrangea season together. We wish you a wonderful continuation of your journey and hope our paths cross again someday. Warm regards, Tak & Motoko
My son and I had the please of having Mazda as our tour guide. He was AMAZING!!! We went above and beyond on our tour. If you’re looking to do this Kamakura tour, definitely book with this company! They even passed out a souvenir bag at the end of it! TOP NOTCH🔥
Thank you once again for joining our Enoshima and Kamakura tour. We were blessed with fine weather, and we hope you thoroughly enjoyed your journey through Kamakura, Japan’s ancient capital, and Enoshima. As we mentioned during the tour, the Great Buddha of Kamakura was originally covered by a roof and not exposed to the elements, but the tsunami swept it all away. Japan is a country of breathtaking natural beauty, shaped by its harsh natural environment. We look forward to welcoming you back! Mazda
Motoki and Tak were incredible. We had an amazing tour customized to our requests and always seemed to beat the lines. Very professional and truly top rate experience.
Thank you so much for your heartwarming comment. I'm so glad you chose our Kamakura tour. Kamakura is a town with its rich history, beautiful harmony of Japanese culture and nature, and laid-back beaches as well. The cherry blossoms were especially magnificent this time. Walking along the beautiful cherry tree-lined main street and seeing the Great Buddha with cherry blossoms in the quiet morning was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip, and I sincerely hope you get to see beautiful Mount Fuji. Moto
Mazda san was an extremely patient and detailed guide. He was very considerate of the mobility issues of my elderly parents and made sure that they were comfortable throughout the long day. We managed to see so many sights and were thoroughly informed and entertained by Mazda san’s excellent guiding and good humour. He’s also a very skillful and safe driver who navigated us along narrow roads and tight parking spots. Can wholeheartedly recommend his tour guide services.
Thank you so much for joining me on the Kamakura and Yokohama tour — it was such a joy to spend the day with your family! We were truly lucky to have such beautiful weather, with the cherry blossoms in perfect bloom. I hope the photos bring back wonderful memories for years to come! It was a pleasure watching your family explore at your own pace — free from the stress of public transportation and fully focused on what you love. Moments like these are exactly why I love what I do. I hope to have the chance to show you more of Japan someday — and please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever plan another visit! Mazda
We booked a private Kamakura & Enoshima island tour and had an amazing time! Our tour guide Tadashi san was fantastic and really made my family’s experience memorable from beginning to end. He put a lot of thought into building our itinerary to suit our needs and also allowed us to enjoy things at our own pace. There were a lot of great personal touches Tadashi san did throughout the tour that we really appreciated as well. Having a private driver pick us up from Tokyo and a tour guide show us the highlights really saved us a lot of time and energy. I highly recommend this private tour to anyone with limited time in Japan and want to explore Kamakura and Enoshima. I also highly recommend Tadashi San as a tour guide!
We love Toshi and Masae! We enjoyed our day with them. Masae had been in contact with me about a week before arriving in Tokyo, asking questions etc. she wanted to make sure that she was prepared for us. Toshi made sure that we arrived safely at each location. From the moment we met them they were like family. Our favorite spot is the Hokokuji Temple, it’s so serene and beautiful. We chose Kamakura and Enoshima as our route and it’s a good combination. Masae was very knowledgeable of each and every site that we visited and Toshi also gave us additional fun facts along the way. They are flexible, considerate, sweet and a pleasure to be with. We highly recommend Masae and Toshi.
My great appreciation for your warm and heartfelt comments on our tour to you, Charrise!! Toshi and I felt very lucky for being able to accompany your family/friend group. It was a fun and pleasant experience for us. Such a great group!! Please come back soon and discover Japan and its beauty at another time of year, maybe next year in a different season. Thank you very much for choosing our tour among many others!! Masae
Yoshi was the most knowledgeable, accommodating guide. He was able to fit in everything we asked for-which was an extremely long itinerary. He had great conversations with our 16 year old son and was versed on so many interesting and related topics. We not only learned a lot but had a very fun and exhausting day temple hopping and visiting so many incredible places. Thank you so much-it was a day to remember!
Thank you so much for your wonderfully generous review — it truly means a great deal to me and Toshi-san. I must admit, when I first saw your itinerary, I briefly wondered whether we were attempting a gentle day in Kamakura or a full-scale endurance test! But, thanks to your enthusiasm and good spirits, it became a genuinely memorable and (I would say) 'delightfully exhausting' adventure. It was an absolute pleasure spending the day with you all. And if I may say so — Jesse-san really deserves special recognition. His curiosity, precociously thoughtful questions, and remarkable maturity made our conversations especially engaging. It’s not every day I meet a 16-year-old who can so effortlessly keep up with (and even elevate!) discussions on history, culture, and everything in between. I really mean it. Thank you, once again, for your kindness and for making the day such an enjoyable experience for me and Toshi-san as well. As we said, we are definitely going to remember this tour for a long time to come! I hope the wonderful memories of Kamakura Temple Hopping stay with you, too. :) Thank you and best regards, Yoshi and Toshi
Moto was very friendly and very knowledgeable about everything that we did. He was very aware of our needs and was very patient with us. A complete professional! We had a whole day with him and he was wonderful the whole time!!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment. I was deeply moved. It was raining a little in Kamakura, but I believe that in return, we were able to spend a very quiet and peaceful time that we will not be able to experience in Kyoto. It was a very enjoyable and unforgettable memory for me as well. again. Thank you very very much. Moto
Fun, fascinating and variety filled day! Wonderful and varied day side trip from Tokyo in the capable and interesting company of Moto and his driver colleague Tok. The temples were great..and we got there before the crowds. But we saw so much more including the vibrant Chinatown of Yokohama. Transport was comfortable and the drive very interesting. I have no hesitation in recommending
Thank you again for your heartwarming comment. The cherry blossoms have just started to bloom in Kamakura, but it's incredibly crowded. The quiet time we spent together was probably a very precious experience. Next time you come to Japan, please be sure to visit Mount Fuji. I also recommend exploring central Japan, including Hida Takayama and Shirakawa-go, village and some towns along the Seto Inland Sea especially cycling along the Shimanami Kaido. Alternatively, the opposite side, the Sea of Japan coast, including Shimane and Tottori prefectures, offers a different perspective on Japanese beauty. Please do come to Japan again. We always welcome you with open arms! Thank you very much, Moto
