Tours/Kamakura/Japanese Sweets Making and Great Buddha in Kamakura
Viator · Private tour

Japanese Sweets Making and Great Buddha in Kamakura

5.0(14)Kamakura1 hour
VIATOR5.0(14)

Description

Would you like to make authentic Japanese sweets? In just 3 hours, you can try making traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi) and visit the famous Great Buddha. You can make seasonal Japanese sweets at a world-famous shop. The designs change every month — cherry blossoms, fireworks, Christmas, and more. Friendly staff will teach you how to make them step by step, and I’ll help by translating everything into English. After you finish, you can enjoy your handmade sweets with matcha or take them home with you. The Great Buddha of Kamakura is one of Japan’s most iconic statues. I’ll share the mysteries behind the Great Buddha,and you can even step inside his massive body! During the tour, we’ll also stop by some souvenir and local food spots.You can also enjoy a beautiful view of the ocean. Join me for an exciting, easy-to-follow tour filled with local secrets! Make you enjoy and share unforgettable moments!

Tour Options

Sweets Making
  • Duration: 3 hours

Itinerary

60 min

In the wagashi-making experience, you’ll make three seasonal sweets, each with a unique shape reflecting the time of year. Don’t worry, I’ll guide you through the process and share interesting details about the history of wagashi. You can enjoy the sweets on the spot or take them home as souvenirs. (If you’d like, you can also enjoy a cup of matcha for an additional 550 yen.)

Pass by

You can see great view of the ocean. It is a popular spot among the local people.

Admission included30 min

The Great Buddha of Kamakura, located at Kotoku-in Temple, is an iconic 13.35-meter bronze statue of Buddha, weighing 121 tonnes. It has stood for over 750 years and is Kamakura’s only Buddhist national treasure. As Japan’s second tallest bronze Buddha, it’s a must-see.

Highlights

Traditional sweets making lesson
Local guide (English-speaking guide)
Entrances fee to Kotoku-in

What's included

Included
Traditional sweets making lesson
Local guide (English-speaking guide)
Entrances fee to Kotoku-in
Not included
Hotel pick up and drop-off
Personal expenses

Traveller Ratings

5.0
14 reviews
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14
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Important Information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Reviews(14)

W
Wanda_T
April 23, 2026
First time making...

First time making Japanese sweets and definitely won’t be my last! Our guide, Hiro, was awesome and he helped translate for us. Would definitely do this again and recommend it to anyone who wants to do something different and learn something new!

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Fuminori_S
February 14, 2026
Dive to Kamakura

I only knew about the Great Buddha when it came to sightseeing in Kamakura, but by joining this tour, I was able to learn about Japanese culture through making Japanese sweets, learn about the history of Kamakura and the Great Buddha, and find out about recommended souvenirs. Our guide, Hiro, was very kind and funny, and I especially have fond memories of the lively haiku competition held at the Great Buddha temple. If you visit Japan, you'll be missing out if you don't join this tour.

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Emily_B
February 2, 2026
A Memorable Kamakura Tour with History, Culture, and a Fun Wagashi Experience

This tour was perfect for our first visit to Kamakura. Hiro was incredibly kind and attentive! The guide made everything easy to understand and helped us feel comfortable throughout the tour. We learned a lot about Kamakura’s history, temples, and local life, and we especially enjoyed the traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi) experience, which was both fun and memorable. We had a great time with Hiro, and this tour was truly a highlight of our trip to Japan.

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Yuki_O
February 2, 2026
Our guide, Hiro warmly...

Our guide, Hiro warmly welcomed us at Hase station, Kamakura. Firstly we could learn basic information and background about Kamakura. Toward the Japanese sweets making place, strolling through local paths and seeing residences and cafes was exciting. I also could see shining ocean from route 134! It was first time to make Nerikiri and actually challenging for me but it thrilled my creativity and satisfied with after done. The combination of having Matcha with freshly made Nerikiri Orange exceeded my expectation. After that, I could get perfect souvenir; Japanese fusion bagels! Thank you for everything, Hiro!

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Yuki_O
February 2, 2026
Making Nerikiri was...

Making Nerikiri was totally first time and really difficult for me but fun. And it tastes really good! I wanna do this again!

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Nicole_A
November 26, 2025
A Great Experience! :)

Hiro was a great guide for this wagashi making experience and the great Buddha of Kamakura! The wagashi making was so fun and informative. We joined a class with locals and Hiro translated the teacher's instructions for us. Everyone was incredibly kind and helpful and we ended the class by enjoying one of the wagashi we made with a cup of matcha! We also got to see some of the other beautiful, seasonal wagashi designs. After that we made our way to the great Buddha statue, making a few stops at shops recommended by Hiro. The bronze Buddha was amazing to see especially with a guide to give us additional history. Hiro took pictures for us along the way and recommended a great sushi spot to us for lunch. Kamakura is a beautiful city and this experience was a really great one on our trip. We'll have to visit again to try one of the other seasonal wagashi designs! Thank you, Hiro!

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Felix_C
August 10, 2025
What a nice tour

Hiro is a very kind guide, he’ll explain the tour flow very carefully at the first and I believe this will very helpful for the first attendees. The Wagashi class was a very nice experience, you can make your own DIY dessert and can eat it with nice Japanese tea after your work is finished. At the end, the great Buddha of Kamakura is cool!

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Anonymous
July 22, 2025
It was an amazing experience!

It was an unforgettable experience—thank you so much! It was my first time making traditional Japanese sweets, and I really enjoyed it! The staff and our guide, Hiro, patiently showed us how to make them step by step. The sweets turned out so beautiful, and we got to eat them right away—they were delicious! I also learned a lot about Japanese confectionery culture and the meaning of the seasons in Japan. The Great Buddha in Kamakura was such a peaceful place. We learned about its history and samurai culture, which was really interesting. I was surprised that we could even go inside the Buddha! Seeing the ocean in Kamakura and stopping by some local shops was another fun part of the tour. Our guide was funny and explained things really clearly. I’d love to join again!

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HIBIKI_T
April 1, 2025
I had a great time.Thank you!

Highly want to recommend to my friends! The paths we walked during the tour were not crowded.Also, the sea was incredibly beautiful, and I was able to experience Kamakura’s hidden place.I would definitely recommend this to my friends!The staff and our guide, Hiro, were also very friendly!

K
Kou_H
April 1, 2025
The bast time in Kamakura

The best guide ever! It became a very enjoyable memory. The sweets we made reflected Japan’s seasons, which was exciting. Since the wagashi we make changes with the seasons, I would love to come again.

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