Buddha, Bamboo & Zen - Bespoke Kamakura Private Walking Tours

The tour begins with a visit to Kotoku-in, a Buddhist temple. You will see the majestic Great Buddha of Kamakura, an iconic bronze statue. The 13.35 metre statue was originally carved in wood and then cast in bronze during the 13th century. For a small fee (50 yen), you can enter the interior of this statue. General admission is 300 yen, child admission (for ages 6-12) is 150 yen and there is no charge for children under 6 years old.

See the stunning 9.18m tall “Eleven-headed Kannon” wooden statue carved 1,304 years ago in 721AD. Enjoy the beautiful gardens with a large variety of flowers blooming throughout the year. The hydrangea path in June is gorgeous - with more than 40 kinds of hydrangea flowers dotting the hills. Enjoy a scenic view of the sea and town of Kamakura. Check out the thousand jizo statues standing in long rows. Explore a small cave and enjoy the statue of Benzaiten and her followers chiseled out of the rock walls.

Hokoku-ji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1334 and is affectionately called the "Bamboo Temple". The highlight of a visit to this temple is undoubtedly the 2,000 moso bamboo plants. For a small fee (¥600), you can sip authentic matcha green tea in a teahouse that overlooks a stunningly beautiful bamboo grove. If you listen carefully, you'll be able to hear the wind whispering between the bamboo. Seasonal flowers, moss gardens, bonzai and statues can be appreciated throughout the temple grounds.

Komachi Street is the main pedestrian shopping street that runs through the heart of Kamakura. It is fun to explore the nooks and crannies of this street. You can enjoy a diverse range of dining options, including the freshest local seafood, gourmet burgers, craft beers and sake, desserts, coffee shops and delicious street snacks. You can rent a kimono for a day of sightseeing. Souvenir shops abound selling knives, ceramics, personalised name-engraved chopsticks, retro toys, trinkets and more. There's even an indoor pig park - where it is possible to hug a micro baby pig.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura. The shrine was originally established in 1063 and is dedicated to the deity, Hachiman, the tutelary god of warriors. You will approach the shrine via Wakamiya Ōji street and pass under some red shinto gates called "torii". You will cross a small bridge over a canal that joins two ponds. A little further along, you will reach a pavilion called 'Maiden'. If you are lucky, you may be able to see a traditional Japanese wedding, dance or music performance here. You will then climb the Great Stone Steps to the main hall of the shrine. A wonderful panoramic view of the city can be enjoyed from the top of these steps. People make wishes and pray for good fortune at this famous shrine.