Kamakura Private Tour: Temples, Nature, and the Great Buddha
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kamakura, Japan
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore Kamakura’s spiritual and natural heritage without worrying about logistics on this private guided walking tour. Visit hiking trails, ancient temples like Jochiji and Hasedera, admire the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in, and enjoy seaside views. This personalized tour highlights Japan’s rich religious traditions and natural beauty.
- Immerse yourself in nature and culture away from the city bustle
- Admission included for Hasedera, Jochiji, and Great Buddha temples
- Learn about Kamakura and key sites from your guide
- Private walking tour offers a fully personalized experience
What's Included
- English Speaking Guide
- All fees and taxes
- Photos of Tour Participants
- Entrance fee - Hasedera Temple
- Entrance fee - Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)
- Entrance fee - Jochiji Temple
- Food and drink
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (Available for an extra fee)
- Private transportationTaxi / Private Car or Bus
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Kita-Kamakura StationYamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0062, Japan
Your guide will waiting for you at the west exit of Kita-Kamakura station.
End point
- Hase Station2 Chome-14 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016, Japan
The tour end at Hase station. Usually, the guide accompanies by Kamakura station.
Operating hours.9:30 am
Itinerary
1
Jochiji Temple
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Kamakura Hiking Trails
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Zeniarai Benten Ugafuku Shrine
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Sasuke Inari Shrine
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Kotoku-in - Great Buddha of Kamakura
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
6
Hasedera Temple
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
7
Yuigahama Beach
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Please add 8000 yen per person to the tour price for hotel pick up
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Tour duration can be extended at a rate of 1,000 yen per person, per half hour, payable in cash.
- You will walk at least 5 km including a mountain pass. So please wear shoes that are easy to walk in.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 125 reviews
Latchmie_R, Feb 2026
Toshi was amazing!! Thank you for being so kind. This was a wonderful experience for us! I would 10/10 recommend!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Dear valued guest,
Thank you for your time to leave us a positive feedback! We're so happy to hear you had a wonderful time with Toshi!
Thank you for your kind words and high rating, and we look forward to welcoming you again someday!
Best regards,
Kyoko
tracy, Jan 2026
We enjoyed our tour with Teiko so much. She was knowledgeable, friendly and considerate. We learned much more about the shrines, temples and people of Japan in 4 hours than we had in the 4 previous days!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Tracy,
Thank you very much for your kind review! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed the Kamakura Private Tour and learned so much about Japan’s shrines, temples, and people in a short time. Your warm words about Teiko truly mean a lot to us.
Thank you for the high rating, and we look forward to welcoming you again on your next visit to Japan!
Best regards,
Kyoko
Michael_R, Jul 2025
Mountain pass hiking was a bit strenuous, but worth the chance to visit some of Kamakura’s more remote shrines and temples. Ended the tour with both Hasedera and the Daibutsu. On a day that was less hot (95°F / 35°C) we would have covered a few more sites, but needed to take more breaks than expected. Great experience!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Dear Michael,
Thank you for sharing your experience! Although it was hot and humid, we are glad that you safely enjoyed exploring Kamakura.
We sincerely appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you back for more tours in the future!
Best regards,
Kyoko
Steven_S, Mar 2025
Great tour. We were lucky enough to have Yu as our tour guide. She was incredible from start to finish. Communication prior to the tour was excellent. We started in the Shinagawa area. The train to Kamakura was easy to navigate. Unfortunately for us we had a cold rainy day. When we met up with Yu she gave us hand warmers and towels which was unexpected but really nice. The tour required that we take a number of trains / buses in order to move around between all the tour sites. Yu provided for all the transportation costs. We were amazed by the number of sites there were to visit. We would not have been able to find all of the sites in the area without Yu’s guidance. Lunch (not provided) was at a local restaurant and there were a number of choices on the menu. The highlight was seeing the great buddha. We highly recommend.
Response from Host, May 2025
Dear Steven,
Thank you for your detailed review! So nice of you to admire Yu's hard work before and on the day of the tour. Too sorry about the bad weather, but we are glad to hear that you still enjoyed our Kamakura tour.
Hope to help you again when you decide your next visit in Japan!
Best regards,
Kyoko
Lori_G, Feb 2025
What an amazing day! We covered so much ground and saw and learned so much about Kamakura, great time.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Dear Lori,
Thank you for booking our Kamakura tour and leaving this 5 star review! Glad to hear that you enjoyed learning about this area.
Thank you again for your positive feedback and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future!
Best regards,
Kyoko
Ria_M, May 2024
The day started early as we were meeting our guide Yumi san at the Kitakamakura station at 9 am. Once we met Yumi san and she started the tour it was so worth the early wake up. The tour took us through some of the most beautiful temples and gardens where peace truly resides before we ended seeing the awe inspiring statue of Buddha. Didn’t know we could actually go inside the statue to marvel the architecture. Yumi san took us to a fantastic restaurant where we experienced amazing soba with tempura. The day ended with the beautiful view of the ocean. Yumi san was returning to Tokyo so she was kind enough to accompany us and take us to the station we wanted to go. She was one of the most knowledgeable and kind hearted person we met in Japan. Would recommend this tour to all who visit Tokyo.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you so much for your review! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed your tour. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience soon!
Regards,
Mariko
Elizabeth_J, Apr 2024
Yumi was an excellent guide and we had a fantastic experience despite relatively constant rain. The temples and shrines are beautiful and it was great to learn more about them as well as Japanese history and culture. Thank you to Yumi for a lovely day!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you so much for the positive feedback!
We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Yumi. We hope to be able to help you explore Japan even more in the future!
Best regards,
Mariko
Reshma_R, Mar 2024
Excellent Tour. We washed our money and saw both the inside and outside of Great Buddha. Our guide was very informative.
This tour is a lot of walking uphill. My daughter had a banged up knee and we had to take Taxi and missed the hike which while uphill and long appeared to be very beautiful and peaceful. I am sorry to have missed it. However, our guide accommodated us admirably and we were still able to make it to the main sites. A big thank you to her for being so wonderful. I will update once I remember her name.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you so much for taking the time write this review, it really means a lot to us! We are a small company, so every feedback is extremely helpful.
I hope we'll be able to help you explore Japan even more in the future!
Best regards,
Mariko
Katie_J, Mar 2024
We had a wonderful time with our guide, Teiko, on this tour! We saw beautiful shrines and temples and Teiko provided us with background information on these spots that we otherwise would not have known. I would recommend!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you so much for the positive feedback!
We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed learning about the history of Kamakura with Teiko.
We hope to be able to help you explore Japan even more in the future!
Best regards,
Mariko
JAZMINE_W, Dec 2023
We were a group of three and we took a day trip from Tokyo to Kamakura. Our wonderful tour guide (and new friend) Yumi, was so amazing! She’s incredibly sweet, knowledgeable and has such a kind spirit. My son is on the autism spectrum and I informed her ahead of time that he may need frequent breaks if he gets overwhelmed. She was so understanding and went out of her way to help accommodate him and he really took a liking to her. We loved the temples, the beach, the shops, the train, the food, the people, the Great Buddha and more! We’re already talking about planning our next visit! We’d love to have her as a guide again and recommend her to everyone we know!
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you so much for this lovely review!
I am really glad that you were able to enjoy your tour the the fullest with Yumi. We are so lucky to have her in our team.
When you'll come back to Japan, we'll make sure that she will be your guide again!
Best regards,
Monica
Nathan_S, Nov 2023
We had an enjoyable tour of Kamakura with our fantastic guide Teiko. Although we had a rainy day, we were able to get around by bus and on foot to see all the shrines and temples without any problems. Teiko was great at explaining the history and significance of each location and even taught us a little about Buddhism and Shintoism.
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Dear Valued Custom,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review!
We are glad that we were able to help you explore Kamakura and that our guide's passion and detailed explanation added depth the experience.
I hope that we will be able to help you explore Japan again soon!
Best regards,
Monica
Bryce_D, Jun 2023
Yu was a great guide and we enjoyed our tour. It was nice to get away from downtown Tokyo to experience some nature and a number of beautiful shrines. Yu booked a great restaurant for lunch and helped us back to the station at the conclusion of the tour. You will need to be prepared to walk but it is worth it!
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for your feedback regarding your tour with Yu. We're delighted to hear that you had a great experience and enjoyed exploring the nature and beautiful shrines outside of downtown Tokyo.
If you have any further travel plans or require any assistance in the future, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would be more than happy to assist you again.
Regards,
Mariko
Sarah_S, Apr 2023
Yu went above and beyond to personalize our tour and ensure everything was perfect for us. She made a reservation at a lunch place where we enjoyed cooking on a grill, hibachi style, and it was so lovely.
I tripped on the sidewalk and Lu took care of everything to ensure I was cared for as if I had my Mom with me… she truly was amazing. We absolutely loved the tour and Yu!!!
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Dear Sarah,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed our tour with our guide Yu and that we were able to provide you with a great experience.
We take pride in offering high-quality tours and exceptional customer service, and we are pleased to see that our efforts have paid off. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will be shared with our team.
We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back on one of our tours in the near future.
Best regards,
Mariko
Leanna_D, Apr 2023
This tour of Kamakura was one oof my families favorite experiences in our 11 day tour of Japan. Yu was our local tour guide and she was fantastic. We travelled with our 11 year old twins and she was kind to them and explained each of the stops at the shrines, temples and beautiful spots on the hiking path in a way that was interesting to the adults and the kids. The nice hike on a beautiful trail from the Northern hills to a shrine that overlooks the ocean was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. We would highly recommend this half-day tour and cross your fingers that Yu is your guide.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Dear valued customer,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed our tour with Yu and that we were able to provide you with a great experience.
We take pride in offering high-quality tours and exceptional customer service, and we are pleased to see that our efforts have paid off. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will be shared with our team.
We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back on one of our tours in the near future.
Best regards,
Mariko
Isabel_S, Mar 2023
10/10. Amazing tour, the weather was perfect and our guide, the length of tour was perfect for a half day tour. Error loading the pictures but the pictures we took came out really well. The spot for lunch was also delicious. Wear comfortable shoes. Very informative and good tour of the area.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Dear Isabel,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed our tour and that we were able to provide you with a great experience.
We take pride in offering high-quality tours and exceptional customer service, and we are pleased to see that our efforts have paid off. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will be shared with our team.
We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back on one of our tours in the near future.
Best regards,
Mariko
Yegor_T, Jan 2023
It was a pleasure to have Noriko as a guide to tour Kamakura's local shrines, temples and Buddha statue particularly around the Hatsumode new year period. She brought a local flavor and passion to the tour explaining the Shinto and Buddhist significance and traditions of various scenic locations and the background and history of the coastal town.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Thank you so much for joining Kamakura tour and posting an excellent review! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Noriko. We appreciate your participation so much and when you have the chance to travel Japan again, we will be happy to host you anywhere at any time.
Best regards,
Takeshi
kramermegane, Feb 2020
This tour was my favorite part of visiting Japan. I cannot speak highly enough of Noriko and her warm personality, thoughtful commentary, and knowledgeable guidance. She crafted the tour based on our interests and her expertise; weather interfered slightly with our original plan but she was flexible in finding other great ways to fill the day (even making last minute arrangements for a tea ceremony). Be prepared to pay small amounts for bus/train fare based on what you choose, what is open, and how walkable the day is. She took us to the major landmarks (complete with helpful and insightful explanations) but also to areas off the beaten path that we would never have found (or understood) on our own. She led the tour as if we were guests visiting her hometown, as opposed to tourists trying to check off sightseeing stops. This tour made me want to visit Kamakura again simply because of how enjoyable it was to be there and spend time learning from Noriko.
Clemens_F, Mar 2019
We booked this tour because it's was combining a decent walk with visiting variuous sports around Kamakura. As based on our research (which might be wrong of course) the walking paths around the town are usually not signposted in English, we decided to look for a guided tour instead of something self-organized.
The weather was pretty bad raining pretty much the whole day. Therefore the tour was changed a liitle e.g. by going by train and bus to the first spot instead of walking there. In the end there was no real walking experience, apart from going along the streets of Kamakura from spot to spot. I guess because of the weather that was a feasible decision and we were totally OK with it.
We obviously can't really judge about how the actual walking experience would have been on a day with good weather.
Amelia l, Jul 2017
Excellent tour many shires, temples, giant Buddha and very knowledgeable guide name Famiko.The history of Kamakura is wonderful the atmosphere is very good and the guide from beginning to end excellend.
Farrah M, Jul 2017
My tour through Kamakura with Yoko was brilliant! The destination was beautiful, serene and spiritual - just what I was hoping from my trip to Japan! The temples and shrines nestled amongst the diverse and extensive gardens and greenery are just magnificent. It's a bustling place yet so calm. Yoko was very knowledgable and informative and I was fascinated by the history and beauty of the places we visited upon our walk. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting this beautiful part of Japan!
Renee T, Jul 2017
This tour went way above my expectations. Beautiful sights, cultural experience, hiking, food, etc: it was a great way to spend a day in Kamakura. Yoko was a delightful guide and provided us with cultural insights and historical details that you would not get if you go on your own.
kbn818, Jun 2017
Our tour consisted of the Hokokuji temple, Great Buddha in Kotoku-in, and Hasedera Temple. The Hokokuji temple has beautiful bamboo garden. We were impressed with the height of the Great Buddha 13 meters. The Hase temple has colorful hydrangeas and peaceful Zen gardens. We highly recommend this tour due to the beautiful sights and the excellent customer service pf the tour coordinator Takeshi and tour guides Shijuko and Yu. Takeshi was very thoughtful and responsive to my email correspondences prior to my arrival to Tokyo and during my stay at Tokyo. Takeshi noticed that there were some elders in our group and suggested alternative itinerary to minimize walking. He also assigned 2 guides so that one guide can attend to two elders and the other guide to the rest of the group. Takeshi also informed me prior to the tour that due to the rain and the slipperiness of the mountain road, he suggested that we skipped 2 shrines on the mountain. Shijuko and Yu were very considerate and knowledgeable. They explained the histories of the attractions well. Shizuko even brought extra umbrellas and lent to us so that we can covered ourselves from the hot summer sun. Shizuko and Yu accompanied us to the train stations from Kamakura to make sure that we would not get lost. In addition, they informed us about various transportation methods to the shopping centers and attractions in Kamakura and Tokyo. Overall, we really appreciated the care and attention of Takeshi, Shijuko, and Yu.
Gail H, Apr 2017
This walking tour is for the hardy walker - more a mountainous hike than walk. Since there were only 3 in our group the guide was able to slow down the pace in the mountains. The temples and landmarks were scenic, the Great Buddha- huge, walk through the historic shopping street nice and a pleasant relaxing lunch with the guide was overall a good worthwhile tour.
Douglas G, Apr 2017
Our Kamakura Walking Tour was a personalized tour for our family. Our tour guide, Yu, was very knowledgeable and fun. We really enjoyed the hiking and shrines. She took us to a fantastic restaurant at the top of a hill...only 165 steps to climb. We finished the tour at the beach. We highly recommend this walking tour of Kamakura.
Joshua_T, Dec 2016
Excellent tour of Kamakura! We took this tour with our two small children. Yoko, our guide, was very knowledgeable about the history of the city and its temples and shrines, as well as Japanese customs. She was also very helpful and understanding with regard to the needs of our children. We highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Kamakura, which should be a stop on any itinerary of Japan. It is a beautiful city with many great attractions, including but not limited to the Great Buddha.
kerry y, Nov 2016
Our tour guide, Naho was excellent. She spoke english well, had extensive knowledge of the temples visited and the areas we walked through, provided excellent instructions on the etiquette when visiting temples, and found a great restaurant for lunch that was reasonably priced. Most of all, she was sincere in ensuring we had a memorable tour taking extra time to answer all of our questions and taking us to Kamakura station. Naho provided us a memorable tour of Kamakura that we will always cherish.
Marton S, Nov 2016
A fantastic tour in a small group. We where only 4 and our wonderful guide Yoko. Yoko made the whole tour very interesting, answering all ,even sometimes, unrelated questions. Her English was good as well. We visited all the temples as described in the itinerary, in our own pace. We also managed to avoid crowded restaurants for lunch. She took photos as well and sent them after the tour.
At the end she made sure that we take the right trains back to our respective hotels.
Ask for Yoko as your guide :-.
Justin_W, Jul 2016
I would highly recommend this tour! It was easy to get to Kamakura via the transit system two switches that was all. It was also highly personalized. I was the only person on the tour! I really enjoyed going to temples and shrines that were as historic as some of the major ones but not listed in every traveler's guide. It was nice to be the only tourist at several of the locations, until the Big Buddha. My tour guide, Yoko, was very personable, spoke very good English, and both of us had unique experiences along the way. She was flexible and we ate a local lunch together as well not included, but very delicious!. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to see Japan off the beaten path a bit but also see the major touristy sites, such as the Big Buddha.
Emmanuel_E, Feb 2024
Visita a los diferentes templos dentro de Kamakura y aprendizaje , gran Buda , Trail hiking en la montaña
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Dear Valued Customers,
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed visiting the different temples in Kamakura, learning about the Great Buddha, and hiking the mountain trails. We hope to welcome you back on another tour soon when you next visit Japan!
Regards,
Mariko
¡Gracias por tu reseña! Nos alegra saber que disfrutaste visitando los diferentes templos en Kamakura, aprendiendo sobre el Gran Buda y haciendo senderismo en las montañas.¡Esperamos darle la bienvenida de nuevo en otro tour pronto cuando visite Japón nuevamente!
Laurie B, Jun 2017
Wouaw! Nous avons adoré. J'espère que vous aurez la chance d'avoir notre guide : Takami! Elle est passionnante et passionnée par les autres cultures. Ce fut un échange durant cette promenade. Cerise sur le gâteau, nous étions les seuls ce jour là. Pourquoi choisir ce tour avec un guide? Certes, Kamakura est visitable sans guide mais vous feriez une erreur! Premièrement, nous avons emprunté un chemin que seul les japonais utilisent reliant plusieurs sites hors sentier touristique et un peu sportif - mais rien de dramatique. Deuxièmement, nous sommes allé dîner à un café bar magnifique grimpette assurée où peu de touristes s'aventurent. Une cliente japonaise de l'endroit nous a même invité quelques minutes à sa table car nous avions une vue du Mont Fuji de là photo photo. Troisièmement, nous avons tant appris ce jour là sur Kamakura mais aussi sur la culture japonaise grâce aux explications de la guide. Le tour se fait vraiment sans stress à votre rythme car petit comité. A la fin de l'excursion, je vous conseille de soit faire d'autres temples ou soit de vous ballader dans les rues de Kamakura. Encore merci à Takami!!!
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