Hokokuji Bamboo Forest

Experience Kamakura's spiritual essence with our expertly curated walking tours. As seasoned local guides, we've compiled an extensive collection of Kamakura's most captivating destinations, from the iconic Great Buddha (Daibutsu) to serene bamboo groves and centuries-old temples. Each tour is fully customizable to match your interests, pace, and schedule. Choose from our flexible tour options to suit your travel style: - Full-Day Experience (8 hours): Perfect for travelers seeking a comprehensive Kamakura journey. Immerse yourself in the city's rich Zen heritage, visit multiple temples and shrines, and experience the perfect blend of spiritual sites and traditional Japanese culture. - Half-Day Discovery (4 hours): Ideal for independent explorers who want expert insights into key locations while maintaining flexibility for self-guided exploration. Learn fascinating historical details about Japan's medieval capital while visiting Kamakura's essential sacred sites. - Express Highlights (2~3 hours): Designed for time-conscious travelers or those seeking a concentrated experience of Kamakura's top attractions. Get a taste of the city's spiritual atmosphere with an efficient, well-planned route covering key temples and shrines.

Discover the seaside city of Kamakura and Yokohama on a full-day tour from Tokyo. See the Great Buddha, explore the Sankei-en Garden, and stroll through the Minato Mirai district. Start your day with a pickup from your hotel in Tokyo. Travel to Kamakura, a city that was once the political center of medieval Japan. See the Great Buddha, a roughly 13-meter-high bronze statue that has stood since the 15th century. Next, head to Yokohama, a city known for its large Chinatown with hundreds of Chinese restaurants and shops. Visit the Sankei-en Garden, a botanical park containing preserved Japanese residences from different eras. Finally, stroll through the seaside Minato Mirai district, site of the 296-meter Landmark Tower. After a day of sightseeing, return to Tokyo with your guide.

Explore two of Japan's most picturesque coastal destinations, rich in history and natural beauty, on a private tour of Kamakura and Enoshima. Visit the Great Buddha, Hase-dera Temple, and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura, and explore Enoshima Island, the Sea Candle, and Ebisu Cave. Begin your day with a pickup from your hotel in Tokyo and head to Kamakura. Visit the iconic bronze statue of the Great Buddha, a symbol of Kamakura. Standing at 13.35 meters, it’s a breathtaking sight. Next, visit Hase-dera Temple, known for its stunning gardens and views of the coastline. The temple houses a massive wooden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Continue to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura, surrounded by picturesque cherry blossoms in spring. Afterward, take a short drive from Kamakura to Enoshima Island. Walk along the coastal paths and visit the Enoshima Shrine. Climb to the top of the Enoshima Sea Candle (lighthouse) for panoramic views of Mount Fuji on clear days. Explore the caves that offer a glimpse into the island’s natural beauty and mythology. Enjoy the convenience and comfort of a private vehicle, allowing for a relaxed and flexible schedule. Your English-speaking guide will provide in-depth knowledge of the history and culture of each site, enriching your experience with stories and insights. Typically, there are options to stop for lunch at local restaurants. Your guide can recommend the best places to enjoy fresh seafood or traditional Japanese cuisine.

When you think of Japan, you think of Tokyo and Mount Fuji—but did you know there’s a beautiful beach just an hour away from Tokyo? Escape the city's hustle and unwind on the sandy shores of Enoshima Beach, a hidden coastal gem perfect for a relaxing swim or a scenic stroll. Combine this with Kamakura’s rich history, Shinto shrines, and the iconic Great Buddha, all in a fully customizable private tour! Visit the Hasa-dera Temple, a stunning hillside temple with breathtaking seasonal gardens and panoramic views. Marvel at the 13-meter bronze Great Buddha, one of Japan’s most famous landmarks. Explore the oldest Zen temple in Kamakura, Kencho-ji, surrounded by beautiful nature. Visit the Meigetsu-in Temple, known as the “Hydrangea Temple,” this serene spot features a famous circular window view. Stop at the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura, offering deep cultural significance. Finally, visit the Hokokuji (Bamboo Grove), a peaceful temple with a mesmerizing bamboo forest and a tea house.

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.

The tour will begin at 08:00am outside of Shinjuku station where you will meet your tour guide. We will board the train from Shinjuku departing for Fujisawa station. The journey will take approximately 60 minutes. From there we will hop on the iconic local train travelling to Kamakura station known as Enoden by the locals. This quaint train car makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to a retro era gone by, and is an attraction in itself for the Kamakura area! Once we have arrived at Kamakura station, we will begin walking to our first destination, a beautiful temple tucked away from central Kamakura famed for its stunning bamboo forest, statues and tea house. The walk will take approximately 30 minutes, where you will walk along a river and pass by many traditional houses. At the temple, your guide will tell you about the temple’s history and significance, as well as the importance of tea culture and the tea ceremony in Japan. We will walk around the temple grounds, and then you will experience a matcha and wasanbon (traditional Japanese sweet) experience in the Temple tea house overlooking the bamboo forest. After the temple, we will walk for 20 minutes back to central Kamakura and to our second destination, a famous shrine in the heart of Kamakura. Famed for its large red Torii gate and beautiful bridges as you enter the shrine complex. Here, we will spend 30 minutes learning about the Shrine’s history and feeding the resident Koi in the Shrine’s pond! Next, we will take a short walk of 5 minutes to the main shopping and eating district of Kamakura! Here your guide will give you an introduction to the area and recommend local foods to try! This is also where you will have your lunch break, so please enjoy your free time exploring, trying street food and picking up the perfect souvenir of your day! After your lunch break, we will take a walk to our fourth destination and probably the most famous in all of Kamakura! A temple known for its great Buddha statue in the centre of the temple complex! As part of the tour, you will be able to enter the great Buddha and feel the amazing power and scale of the statue. It is now time to venture over to Enoshima island! We will take a short walk of 5 minutes from the temple to Hase train station to get back on the Enoden train. The journey will take approximately 23 minutes to arrive in Enoshima! Once we have arrived in Enoshima, we will walk along its beautiful stretch of coastline. Very popular with local people and tourists alike, this stretch of coastline offers the best views of Enoshima island and on very fair weather days you can see Mount Fuji! After the relaxing walk along the sea, and after enjoying the views at the top of Enoshima shrine and observatory, we will walk back to Katase Enoshima station. Depending on the time of year, we may catch the sunset as we leave Enoshima island! We will then get a train back to Fujisawa station and board our train back to Shinjuku!

Experience the beauty and history of Kamakura on a full-day private sightseeing trip with a knowledgeable guide. Begin your journey by visiting the iconic Great Buddha (Daibutsu), a massive bronze statue that stands as a symbol of the city. Stroll through the serene Hase-dera Temple, known for its stunning gardens and impressive views of the coastline. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, savoring traditional Japanese cuisine. Afterward, explore the charming streets of Kamakura, lined with quaint shops and cafes, where you can sample local snacks and pick up unique souvenirs. Your guide will take you to the picturesque Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, an important Shinto shrine surrounded by beautiful nature. You may also have the opportunity to visit the hidden gems of Kamakura, such as the tranquil Engaku-ji Temple or the scenic hiking trails that offer breathtaking views. Throughout the day, your guide will share fascinating stories and insights about Kamakura's rich cultural heritage, making your visit both informative and enjoyable. This personalized tour allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty and history of one of Japan's most beloved destinations.

Explore the historic city of Kamakura on a private tour with a guide. Customize your itinerary to your preferences and see the city's most famous sights, including the Big Image of Buddha in Kotoku-in temple, the Hachiman shrine, and the island of Enoshima. Start your tour with a pickup from your hotel in Tokyo. Travel to Kamakura and learn about the city's history as a center of politics in the 12th century. Visit the Big Image of Buddha in Kotoku-in temple and travel to almost all the famous temples. On the way to Hachiman shrine, enjoy shopping on KOMACHI street. While walking through the street, feel something different from the western culture. In this area, there are many valuable temples and shrines. 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, enjoy a stunning view of Mount Fuji. Customize the itinerary of your tour or get a reference according to your preferences.

Journey to Kamakura, where ancient temples and shrines whisper tales of history by the sea. Marvel at the iconic Great Buddha and find serenity in the bamboo-lined paths of Hokoku-ji Temple. Explore coastal charm at Yuigahama Beach and embrace the cultural heart of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Kamakura's hills offer nature retreats, while Komachi Street entices with local flavors. Join our guided personal tour and unlock Kamakura's secrets, where every step is a voyage through time. Discover the allure of this coastal haven, where history meets tranquility.

Important: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed, and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences/requests. 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 a local host who are passionate about the place they call home and who choose to spend their free-time sharing it with like-minded travelers. Follow your host 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.