Created by Peter Oxley and Virgil Calaguian, fellow artists, photographers, and writers, SAMURAI PHOTOTOURS take you to Kamakura's four main tourist sites, with focus on the history and heritage of the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), which saw the introduction of the shogunate, Japan's native form of government that lasted until 1868; the flowering of the samurai tradition with its strict code of bravery, honor, and loyalty; and the rise of rigidly disciplined Zen Buddhism as a religious as well as political force. Throughout this unique tour, open to people of all ages, from single travelers to groups of up to eight persons, your multilingual and multicultural guide shares with you an extraordinary wealth of knowledge of Japanese history and culture, placed in the context of concurrent Asian and European affairs, in a way that is both entertaining and enlightening. All that plus a stroll down Kamakura's main tourist hub for a lively look at colorful contemporary Japanese culture.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $155.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Scenic walk to the main shrine
One of Japan's three most important Shinto shrines, built by the first shogun, Minamoto Yoritomo in the 12th century
Kamakura's famous shopping street, lined on both sides by shops and stalls selling all sorts of sweets, snacks and souvenirs
Centuries-old giant bronze statue of the Amida Buddha dating back to the 13th century
Popular Buddhist temple sprawled over multiple levels, with beautiful gardens, ponds, caves, and an ancient 11-headed statue of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 111 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
When Emperors Reigned and Shoguns Ruled lasts about 4 hours. The itinerary has 5 stops.
Prices start at $107 per person for this Kamakura experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $155. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 12:00 PM.
Children aged 4–11 pay nothing, adults from $107.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Outside the East Exit ticket gate. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 42 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Samurai Phototours.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
It was a wonderful yet rainy afternoon... but we got all the sites completed. Virgel is amazingly knowledgeable and put so much of Kamakura's history into perspective.... we walked thru history as Virgel set the tone. Stopping for Matcha Ice Cream was a special addition that we all sooo appreciated!!! And Virgel's interest in our next places of travel brought us closer yet, to our dear guide.
From the moment we met Virgil outside the train station, we knew we were in good hands. He has an easy way of connecting with people and is a pleasure to be with. We learned so much about Kamakura (& Japan) re history, geography, and culture by visiting gardens, caves, shrines, local crafts shops, and had great views of the town and the sea. We unexpectedly came upon a wedding at a local shrine which Virgil pointed out and encouraged us to watch. He gave us plenty of opportunity for photographs and, happily for us, offered to take numerous pictures of us. A wonderful way to spend the afternoon.
We had a fantastic tour of Kamakura with Virgil! He was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and made the history come alive in such an entertaining way. He also gave us an excellent lunch recommendation—some of the best soba we've ever had! We really appreciated his tip to visit Enoshima after the tour—it was the perfect way to end the day. Highly recommended!
Wonderful backstory of the history of the shoguns. Virgil was a great historian and very knowledgeable. He was very kind and also great photographer! Great tour!
Thank you so much for the very kind review. It was a great pleasure meeting the two of you and showing you around.. Hope you'll come back to Kamakura someday - or we'll meet again somewhere in this big, beautiful...world! Warmest regards to you both!
My 10-year-old daughter and I took a week-long trip to Tokyo, as she loves all things Japanese (anime, manga, Pokemon, Ghibli, ramen and sushi, etc), and I booked this tour as a chance for us both to learn a bit about Japanese history and culture. It turned out to be our favorite part of the trip. Virgil was an amazing guide and taught us both a lot. My daughter can be a tough nut to crack, but Virgil tells stories in such an engaging way that she thoroughly enjoyed the tour as much as I did. The shrines and temples of Kamakura are awe inspiring, and I was blown away by our day there. I give this tour my highest recommendation for anyone with even a passing interest in Japanese history, culture, and religion.
Many thanks for such a glowing review! I’m so glad you and most especially your lovely and smart daughter enjoyed your visit to Kamakura. The two of you are among the top on my list of best customers ever! I hope I’ll have the pleasure of showing you around again in the near future. All the best!
Kamakura is a beautiful place. Virgil is very friendly, patient, knowledgable, and was always ready to take a photo of us! He knows so much about the history of Kamakura and Japan in general and we learned so much from him. He also told many fun historical anecdotes! My family really enjoyed this tour and had a wonderful time.
Thank you so much for the review! I’m so glad you enjoyed your visit to Kamakura. I hope our paths will cross again in the future - back in Kamakura or somewhere else in this amazing world we live in. All the best to you and your charming family! Virgil
A very comprehensive tour at a relaxed pace, with a depth of historical information and loads of local flavor. Plenty of time to enjoy the stops at your own pace.
It was very lovely and informative to discover Kamakura with Virgil. He is so helpful in everything. Highly recommend this tour.
Hi, it was very lovely and informatiıve to discover Kamakura with Virgil. He is very helpful in everything. Highly recomended..
We had a great time with Virgil, he was extremely knowledgeable and had many interesting stories about the places we visited. He was flexible with the sites and our time. Getting to places on public transport was also a plus for us. Virgil speaks English very well and Spanish also. Recommend this trip 100 %
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| When Emperors Reigned and Shoguns Ruled | 4 hours | 4.9 (42) | $107 | |
 Kamakura Walking Tour - The City of Shogun | 3h 30min | 5.0 (144) | $35 | View |
 Kamakura Historical Walking Tour with the Great Buddha | 5 hours | 4.9 (173) | $91 | View |
 Kamakura Private Tour: Temples, Nature, and the Great Buddha | 5 hours | 4.9 (130) | $131 | View |
 Kamakura & Enoshima Private Tour | Licensed Guide & Driver | 10 hours | 5.0 (77) | $582 | View |
 Kamakura Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide | 4 hours | 4.9 (66) | $97 | View |
 Kamakura Early Morning Tour Tokyo Departure Available | 6 hours | 5.0 (32) | $68 | View |